Getting arrested can have serious consequences for non-citizens living in the United States. Even a minor crime or dismissed case could lead to deportation. But many non-citizens, their families, and even the lawyers representing them, don’t know about the potential immigration consequences of their cases. An uninformed decision can be the difference between going home or being deported.

CUP collaborated with The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP), designer Petra Farinha, and illustrator Lau Giraudo, to produce this interactive graphic to help non-citizens, their families, and lawyers to navigate the legal system and avoid deportation. A digital choose-your-own adventure, Don’t Get Iced shows what can happen to non-citizens who have been arrested. The site also provides information for lawyers to learn how to better advise their non-citizen clients. 

Click here to see the web graphic!

Resources & Links

The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) is a non-profit organization that harsh immigration consequences of contact with the legal system.

Petra Farinha is an experienced UX Designer based in New York, who specializes in using design and technology as means for social change. 

Lau Giraudo is a Graphic Designer and Art Director specialized in typography and illustration, based in NYC

Public Access Design is a program of the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP). Public Access Design projects use design to make complex urban issues accessible to the New Yorkers most affected by them. 

Funding Support

Support for this project was provided by: The Rockefeller Foundation’s NYC Cultural Innovation Fund and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Special Thanks

Oscar Nuñez, Mark Torrey, Frampton Tolbert


  • CUP
  • Project Leads
  • Clara Amenyo
  • Christine Gaspar

      • Immigrant Defense Project
      • Advocacy Partner
        • Mizue Aizeki
        • Josh Epstein
        • Alisa Welleck

        • Petra Farinha
        • Designer

          • Lau Giraudo
          • Illustrator

          • Jon Gronberg
          • Web Development