As Chicago residents try to live their lives under President Donald Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” reports of federal agents using broad authority to detain and question U.S. citizens and legal residents have many people wondering what documents they should be carrying to prove their identity.

Since the start of the immigration enforcement surge last month, federal agents working with the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested hundreds of people in Chicagoland for alleged violations of immigration policy.

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In that sweep, numerousU.S. citizens and others have reported being detained, including a 44-year-old U.S. citizen who said agents zip-tied her and questioned her after work at a downtown bar earlier this month, and a Rogers Park man who agents fined $130 for not carrying his legal papers with him when they questioned him about his legal status last week.

The woman, Maria Greeley, told the Tribune she had a copy of her passport with her. But because she’s Latina, she said the agents told her she “doesn’t look like” a Greeley and called her a liar. The agents let her go after an hour, she said.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. So we asked a legal expert, what documents should people be carrying when stopped by agents?

“That is a really good question, especially in light of all the rights violations that ICE is doing. It’s hit or miss,” said Veronica Garcia, a senior staff attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. “There’s what you should carry and whether they’re going to take your proof of what you’re carrying as truth, like what happened with that woman who’s a U.S. citizen.”

Under federal law, registered foreign nationals, such as green card holders, must carry proof of registration with them at all times. Prior to a second Trump administration, this was rarely enforced. 

U.S. citizens are not required to carry identification with them, but Garcia said some might consider carrying their passport or a copy of their passport for faster proof of their identity.

“Because they’re scared of being detained for how they look or where they live,” Garcia said.

One key question facing individuals worried about being detained is whether they should carry originals or copies. Garcia said that it’s a “personal decision” based on risk. If you lose your green card, it can cost upward of $400 to replace. 

Some residents concerned that ICE or Border Patrol might lose or damage an original passport or other document might opt for copies or photos. But Garcia cautions that carrying photos of your documents on your phone carries its own risk.

“It can get a bit tricky to have … this on your phone because you would most likely need to unlock it and this can give access to more of your information than you want,” she said.

While individuals can decide for themselves what documents they carry, Garcia said they should be mindful not to carry foreign passports.

She said the Immigrant Legal Resource Center advises people — U.S. citizens and others — to carry a“red card” that can be printed off the internet listing their rights. It lists key constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent, is two-sided and can fit inside of a wallet.

The card advises people:

• DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
• DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent. 
• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer. 
• If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly. 
• GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.

In addition to carrying the “red card,” Garcia said, U.S. citizens could carry state identification. If they have some form of legal status, like a green card or a work permit, she said, they should also carry them.

The broader trend of requesting papers is “very concerning,” she said, tying it to “racial profiling” on the part of federal agents.

“Once they stop someone based on how they look … that’s very concerning. It’s a fine line to walk,” Garcia said. “Today, it’s against a certain group of individuals. Who is next and what are they going to demand is shown next?”