In the face of uncertainty surrounding changes in immigration enforcement, Advocates for Immigration Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) and Lawrence’s chapter of Sanctuary Alliance are coming together to host an educational session featuring the most current local and national information on immigration.
Immigration 101 will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14 in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St.
During the session, “Attendees will learn about different legal statuses and protections, discuss common misconceptions, and hear first-hand testimonies about the immigrant experience,” according to information from event organizers.
The event is free to attend and open to the public. No legal services will be available onsite.
AIRR is a Kansas City-based nonprofit advocating for immigrants’ rights. Sanctuary Alliance’s mission is to support city policy that promotes Lawrence’s sanctuary status and to provide resources for the local immigrant community.
As the Trump administration gears itself toward mass deportation and criminalization of undocumented immigration status, Kansans are seeing the ripple effects.
In May, the City of Lawrence pulled a controversial resolution from the city commission’s meeting agenda after it sparked outrage among residents. The resolution proposed that the city stop enforcing equal rights ordinances to prevent loss of federal funding. Among other repercussions, such a resolution could affect protections for immigrants provided by various city ordinances.
It is unclear whether an iteration of the resolution will appear on a future commission meeting agenda, as city staff members said they were reevaluating their approach.
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them) has been a contributor to The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They began their career in Kansas City journalism in 2021 before a stint as a bookseller in Lawrence. They can be reached at wulfe@lawrencekstimes.com.
Read their work for the Times here.
Know your rights
If you’re stopped by police:
• Rather than be confrontational during an interaction with police, it’s better to exercise your right to remain silent.
• If an officer asks you for identifying information, confirm that you are being required to provide that information.
• You do not have to consent to a search. Clarify whether you are able to refuse a search. If an officer believes your car contains evidence, your car can be searched without your consent.
More: ACLU of Kansas — Know Your Rights when Stopped by Police in Kansas
If you’re confronted by ICE:
• Stay calm. If you have lawful immigration status, show your documentation. If you’re undocumented, don’t provide false documents, and don’t discuss your immigration status with police, ICE or other officials.
• If an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official comes to your door, don’t open your door. Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home. ICE “warrants” do not grant authority to enter a home without consent of the occupant.
More: National Immigrant Justice Center — Know Your Rights: What to do if You or a Loved One is Detained; If You Encounter ICE
If someone you know is arrested in Douglas County:
• You can check the jail’s booking log at this link to confirm and see if a bond amount has been set.
• If bond is set in the case, you can pay it online via this link.
• The Douglas County Community Bail Fund might be able to help with limited assistance for misdemeanor bails. Call 785-764-3684 or email DGCOBailFund@gmail.com.
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Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
