Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta gives 'Kimmel' viewers advice on what to do if you're detained by ICE

"Number one is: stay silent."
 By 
Shannon Connellan
 on 
Dolores Huerta and Diego Luna on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
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Finishing up a tremendous week-long run guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Diego Luna sat down with legendary American civil rights activist Dolores Huerta for his final show.

In a must-watch video above, Huerta takes the Andor star through how she finds hope in the current "dark times" for American immigrants, and how Barack Obama pinched her famous "Sí Se Puede" slogan (and she leads the audience in a powerful chant). The labor leader also reflects on America's response to the Trump Administration's harsh immigration enforcement policies and mass deportations — including the recent nationwide protests.

"I think when people see what’s happening in the news, where people are being sent to prisons and other countries, the way that people are being treated, the brutality, people are being kidnapped off the streets, I think people are really upset about that and angry," says Huerta. "We do see that people are protesting; we saw 5 million people on the streets all over the United States of America. People are stepping up."

When Luna asks Huerta for advice for anyone facing a "difficult situation" with law enforcement, she has some practical guidance for people who find themselves detained by authorities.

"If they find themselves detained by police or by ICE, number one is: stay silent. Don’t say anything. Don’t give any information at all. The next thing, don’t sign anything either. If they give you a paper to sign, don’t sign it. Then, either memorise a number or have it on your arm with a little Sharpie, a telephone number of someone that you can call. If you are detained, they will let you make one phone call," Huerta says.

"And of course, if you can, ahead of time, make sure you have an attorney, that somebody will be able to reach that attorney, and let them know where you’re at."

While you're here, make sure you watch Luna's final Kimmel opening monologue.

A photo portrait of a journalist with blonde hair and a band t-shirt.
Shannon Connellan
Senior Editor

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's Senior Editor, General Assignments, based in London. She has been Mashable's UK Editor (and still manages the illustrious UK team) and Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives searching for Exit 8. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror, and loves to nerd out with movie stars, filmmakers, and TV creators.


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