Who Dares to Travel Now? Know Your Rights at the Airport and the Border

A Zoom national briefing was held that  brought together leading voices in immigration law, advocacy, and policy to discuss the increasingly complex environment faced by international travelers, especially immigrants, under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies.

The discussion opened with Sunita Sohrabji, who served as the moderator. She welcomed participants and introduced the distinguished panel of speakers. Sunita set the tone of the session by highlighting the urgency of knowing one’s rights at a time when immigration enforcement has become aggressive and unpredictable. She explained that the session would cover” know your  legal rights at the border or at the airport in or out of YSA . specific incidents involving travelers, and guidance for immigrants navigating entry  into the United States or exiting .

The first speaker, Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of CAIR-SFBA, spoke with conviction about the rise in civil rights violations targeting Muslims and other  immigrants at the U.S. airports. She emphasized that despite the difficult political climate, individuals must assert their rights. Zahra shared that her organization has seen a sharp increase in cases involving airport harassment and unlawful questioning. She pointed out that federal agents often rely on intimidation, assuming travelers won’t push back. Zahra urged the audience never to sign anything without legal counsel, especially documents like Form I-407, which relinquish permanent residency. She further stressed the importance of community education and legal workshops, revealing that CAIR has expanded its “know your rights” sessions in response to growing demand. Zahra reminded everyone: “The law is on your side—you just have to know it and be brave enough to assert it.”