The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects your right to peacefully assemble (protest).

The City of Minneapolis sent a message on January 10, 2026 titled, "City urges protests remain peaceful in federal shooting aftermath." Here is a quote,

"People have the right to peacefully protest and exercise their First Amendment rights. People can assemble peacefully in public spaces and on sidewalks, not roadways or freeways. They can carry signs and chant. They cannot throw objects, start fires or damage property. They also cannot use fireworks or weapons."

What rights do I have when communicating with ICE?

Here are several important resources for you regarding your rights.

• The Office of the Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has a resource titled, "Know Your Rights with ICE (PDF)" available in English, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.
• Deaf Equality has a guide about your legal protections and communication access rights in American Sign Language (ASL) and English, "What Deaf and Hard of Hearing People Need to Know About ICE".

What about communication access tips?

Our sister agency, the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing State Services, sent out a newsletter about safety and communication on January 16, 2026. Here are some of their tips. 

If you need to communicate in an emergency situation, it is important that you remain calm. Identifying yourself as a person who is deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing may help keep you safe. Three ways you can identify yourself include:

• Saying "I am deaf (or deafblind or hard of hearing),"
• Gesturing that you have hearing loss by pointing to your ear and shaking your head,
• Showing the Communication card:
  o Communication card: I am deaf
  o Communication card: I am deafblind
  o Communication card: I am hard of hearing
  o Communication card: I have hearing and vision loss

The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing continues to work with the Governor's Office and with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to ensure communication access is provided during news briefings and communications to the public.