
Boulder DA to lead 'Know Your Rights' training for immigrants
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The Boulder County District Attorney’s office is leading a "Know Your Rights" training Saturday, in response to community concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Hosted by Motus Theater, the training will cover protections the U.S. Constitution and state laws provide at traffic stops, courthouses, probation offices and for crime victims.
Cristian Solano-Córdova, communications, outreach and development director for Motus Theater, said members of local law enforcement agencies will also be there to answer questions.

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"To really talk about what kind of immigrant protections there are under state law and where there aren’t protections, so people are aware of their rights," Solano-Córdova explained.
All individuals on American soil, regardless of their immigration status, have rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. For example, you have the right to refuse searches of your belongings, car and home under the Fourth Amendment, unless an officer has a valid warrant signed by a judge. The Sixth Amendment guarantees your right to legal representation. You can learn more at the event, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Boulder Public Library.
Former Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and District Attorney Michael Dougherty will also read a story about how one Motus member helped his 8-year-old sister face her fears of deportation. Solano-Córdova noted negative stereotypes and abstract statistics can make it hard to get into serious discussions about values shared by most Americans, like liberty and justice.
"It’s really important to tell individual people's stories, because that really humanizes the discussion," Solano-Córdova emphasized. "This is a place for civic dialogue, rather than people just talking at each other."
The event will spotlight the experiences of Boulder residents who were granted temporary protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program through murals and illustrations. Never-before-seen photographs from Motus’ 2017 event “Law Enforcement Leaders Read Dreamer Stories” will be put on display too.
Solano-Córdova added regardless of an individual's beliefs about current U.S. immigration policies, he hopes people will come away with a new understanding of their rights and how they can affect the lives of undocumented families.