What these papers mean
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Updated July 28, 2026
Estoy ejerciendo mi derecho a guardar silencio. No firmaré documentos sin un abogado.
Я пользуюсь правом хранить молчание. Я не буду подписывать документы без адвоката.
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What each document does
Voluntary departure
Means agreeing to leave on your own and giving up the court hearing. After signing, the case does not go before a judge.
Stipulated removal
Agreeing to a removal order without a hearing. A judge never reviews the case.
"Sign and you will get out faster"
This phrase appears regularly in accounts of detentions. Signing these documents ends the case; it does not speed up release.
A detainer (ICE hold) — if the person is still in a local jail
A detainer is a request from ICE to a local jail to hold the person for up to 48 hours after they should have been released, so ICE can pick them up. It is a request, not a warrant.
The jail is not required to honor it, and if ICE does not come within 48 hours (weekends and holidays count), the person must be released. This is a question for the criminal defense attorney.
What advocacy organizations publish
ACLU, FIRRP and ILRC publish the recommendation not to sign any document before speaking with an attorney, and to give only your name.
ACLU ↗FIRRP ↗ILRC ↗Dictionary of forms and notices →Information updated July 28, 2026. Rules change — check the date.
We are not attorneys and we do not give legal advice. This page has facts and links to official sources only.