Please note that MJL no longer provides legal representation. However, we are happy to refer you to other organizations and attorneys if you have been contacted by the FBI or the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).
If visited by FBI agents or officers acting as FBI agents under the Joint Terrorism Task Force:
- You may step outside your home, if you feel safe, or speak through a mail slot or window. Inviting agents into your home brings legal risks. If they try to force entry, do not resist, but you can say: I do not consent to a search.
- Whether visited in person or contacted by phone, you have a right not to answer questions without an attorney. Instead, you can say politely, as many times as necessary: I don’t wish to answer any questions without an attorney. Please leave your number. My attorney will call you.
- Call MJL — 857-217-2930 — and we will refer you to organizations or attorneys who may be able to assist you. You may also wish to contact CAIR-Massachusetts — 617-862-9159 — and/or the ACLU of Massachusetts — 617-482-3170.
- Watch and share this Know Your Rights video below from Muslim Advocates for a walk through of how to handle a visit from the FBI (in the second half they cover what to do if you are detained at the airport.)
- You may also find these Know Your Rights resources from CUNY CLEAR Project useful: in English, Spanish, Bangla, Arabic, and Urdu.
Speaking to the FBI Without Counsel is Highly Risky,
Including When You Have “Nothing to Hide.”
Many people contacted by the FBI answer questions without an attorney because they want to help and know they have done nothing wrong. But even if you have committed no crime, you may face serious consequences as a result of speaking with an agent unrepresented — for example, being accused of making a false statement, subjected to repeated visits, pressured to act as an informant, and/or or facing (or having loved ones face) immigration problems.
Please know that even if you have spoken with the FBI in the past (even multiple times), it is not too late to contact an attorney if they visit you again.
Even those trying to help an investigation have sometimes been prosecuted and sentenced to many years in prison. If you have information you think could assist an investigation, it is still wise to contact an attorney for help.
Be Polite and Confident. Repeat Yourself.
Agents may not be deterred the first time you say you will not speak without an attorney. They may ignore you, threaten you, try to reassure you that you don’t need an attorney, pressure you to schedule an interview, and/or imply you are overreacting. They are also legally allowed to lie to you — though it is a crime to lie to a federal agent.
Be confident and polite, and repeat yourself as many times as necessary: I don’t wish to answer questions without an attorney. Please leave your number. My attorney will call you.
Rights Are Most Effective When We All Use Them.
Just like fire preparedness, it’s important to discuss what to do if the FBI visits ahead of time with your family or roommates. Make sure everyone you live with knows not to let law enforcement enter your home without a warrant. You may want to practice what to do, as it can be difficult to remember if you are surprised by a visit.
There is nothing suspicious or uncooperative about understanding your rights and using them. Choosing not to answer questions without an attorney is fully consistent with your rights under the United States Constitution.