Your Personal Security Plan: How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

The world feels different now. Since the 2024 election and the implementation of Project 2025, life for many Americans feels increasingly uncertain and unstable. Citizens, visa holders, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals alike face growing anxiety. Each news cycle brings fresh reports of heightened border scrutiny, unexplained detentions, increased surveillance, and the erosion of rights that once felt secure.

Feeling worried or vulnerable is not a sign of weakness. It is a natural response to instability. But there is something you can do to take back control. Creating a personal security plan allows you to protect yourself, your family, and your rights while moving forward with greater confidence and clarity.

This guide offers practical strategies you can use to prepare for what lies ahead. From securing vital documents to strengthening digital privacy and building emotional resilience, each step will help you feel more capable, connected, and ready.

Understand Your Personal Risks

Start by identifying the unique risks you and your family may face. Risk awareness is the foundation of every effective plan. It sharpens your focus and helps you take targeted action.

Consider these factors:

• Citizenship or Immigration Status: Non-citizens, visa holders, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals often face increased scrutiny, especially at borders or during interactions with officials.

• Ethnic, Religious, or Political Identity: Members of marginalized communities and outspoken political advocates may experience disproportionate targeting under restrictive policies.

• Professional and Social Visibility: If you’re involved in journalism, activism, teaching, or leadership, you may be more visible to those in power.

• Digital Footprint: Public social media profiles and political content increase the likelihood of digital surveillance.

• Travel Habits: Frequent or international travel can trigger added scrutiny and complications.

This step is about clarity, not fear. By honestly evaluating your circumstances, you’ll be able to take calm, informed actions that increase your security.

Secure Your Essential Documents

In times of political change, your documents become your lifeline. Secure access to key records ensures that you can act quickly if you need to move, verify identity, or prove status.

Gather These Essential Records

• Passports, birth certificates

• Social security cards or national IDs

• Visas, green cards, naturalization papers

• Marriage, divorce, and custody documents

• Medical records and prescriptions

• Financial documents, insurance policies, property deeds

Store Them Safely

• Make clear physical copies and store them in waterproof, fireproof containers.

• Keep originals in a separate secure location.

Create Digital Backups

• Scan all documents and store them with tools like VeraCrypt or other AES-encrypted drives.

• Use privacy-first cloud services like Proton Drive, Tresorit, or Sync.com.

• Keep your digital backup current and organized.

Designate Trusted Access

• Share your document plan with one or two trusted individuals.

• Provide encrypted instructions on how to access files if needed.

Legal experts sometimes recommend storing a sealed copy of key documents with a lawyer or advocate, especially for immigration or custody-related cases.

Build an Emergency Communication Network

Reliable communication is a vital part of your safety. It’s how you stay connected, check in, and take coordinated action if things escalate.

Choose Trusted Contacts

• Identify 3 to 5 people you trust with sensitive information.

• Discuss confidentiality and expectations for contact.

Use Secure Communication Tools

• Use encrypted tools like Signal for messaging and ProtonMail for email.

• Get familiar with these apps in advance, and help your contacts do the same.

Agree on Protocols

• Set regular check-in intervals.

• Create simple code words or phrases to indicate distress, safety, or need for help.

Prepare for Disruptions

• Have a backup method: landlines, radio, or in-person meeting points.

• Know what to do if someone goes silent.

Practice Periodically

• Run drills or reviews every few months.

• Adapt the plan based on new risks or feedback.

This isn’t just about information. It’s about emotional reassurance. Knowing your network has your back gives you strength.

Strengthen Your Digital Privacy

Your phone and computer carry a detailed map of your life. Securing your devices and data is key to protecting your freedom.

Visit our full guide on How to Secure Your Devices Against Government Surveillance.

Quick Checklist:

• Lock devices with passwords or biometrics.

• Keep software updated with security patches.

• Use Signal and ProtonMail for encrypted communication.

• Install a reputable password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password and enable two-factor authentication.

• Browse with privacy-first browsers like Brave, Firefox, or Tor.

• Use VPNs such as ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN.

• Review social media settings and reduce oversharing.

• Learn to recognize phishing, scams, and impersonation attempts.

Note: VPNs and encryption tools may be restricted in some regions. Always verify local laws.

Practice Safe Travel

Domestic and international travel now comes with increased risk, especially for targeted individuals. Preparation is your best tool.

Know Your Rights

• Read up on your rights at airports and checkpoints.

• Use printable resources from organizations like the ACLU.

Organize Travel Docs

• Carry passports, visas, and residency proof securely.

• Keep copies separate from originals.

Use Clean Devices

• Consider a travel-only phone or laptop with minimal personal data.

• Encrypt and power down devices before border crossings.

Share Your Itinerary

• Let trusted contacts know where you’re going and when.

• Set check-in times and backup plans.

Stay Calm, Assert Your Rights

• Stay composed during questioning.

• Record or document interactions when it’s safe.

• Report incidents to your emergency network immediately.

Prepare for Detention Scenarios

• Know who to call and what documents they’ll need.

• Share a copy of your plan with a lawyer or advocate.

Protect Your Financial Security

Financial stability offers both freedom and peace of mind. Here’s how to strengthen your independence during volatile times.

Create a Financial Safety Net

• Save 3 to 6 months of expenses.

• Keep some cash physically secure at home.

Diversify Accounts and Access

• Use more than one bank.

• Consider international accounts where legally possible.

Use Secure Banking Practices

• Set strong, unique passwords.

• Enable 2FA on all financial accounts.

• Use privacy-respecting financial tools.

Explore Alternative Tools Carefully

• Learn about privacy-focused crypto. Understand the risks and regulations.

Create a Financial Contingency Plan

• Prepare access instructions for trusted contacts.

• Include powers of attorney and will provisions.

Know and Protect Your Rights

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to asserting your legal rights.

Learn Your Core Rights

• Understand rights around speech, search, detention, and legal counsel.

• Know how these differ at home, in public, and at borders.

Carry a Rights Card

• Get printable cards from the ACLU or National Lawyers Guild.

• Keep them in your wallet or stored on your phone.

Practice What to Say

• Stay calm.

• Politely assert your right to remain silent and request legal counsel.

Document Interactions Safely

• Discreetly record when possible.

• Share key details with your trusted network.

Know Who to Call

• Save contact info for civil rights lawyers.

• Make sure your emergency contact has this information too.

Stay Informed

• Track legislative changes from reputable news outlets or groups like the ACLU.

Build Emotional Resilience

Even with good plans, uncertainty takes an emotional toll. Resilience is about protecting your mental and emotional health.

Acknowledge Your Emotions

• Fear, grief, anger, and exhaustion are valid.

• Don’t judge yourself for having strong feelings.

Create Grounding Routines

• Anchor your day with small, calming habits: journaling, walks, tea, calls with a friend.

Limit Overload

• Choose a few trusted news sources.

• Set healthy limits around when and how much you consume.

Stay Connected

• Regular check-ins build emotional safety.

• Community reminds you that you are not alone.

Consider Professional Support

• Therapy is a tool, not a luxury.

• Look for trauma-informed or political stress-aware providers.

Find Meaning in Action

• Helping others, volunteering, or creative projects can restore agency.

• Remember: resilience can be quiet, personal, and powerful.

Plan for Relocation or Evacuation

Sometimes, the safest step is to leave. A clear, well-considered evacuation plan removes panic from the equation.

Set Your Threshold

• Define the conditions that would trigger a move: policy changes, safety threats, loss of services.

• Write them down clearly.

Choose Destination Options

• Look into places with legal paths, family ties, and reliable healthcare.

Get Your Travel Materials Ready

• Keep passports, IDs, and supporting documents current.

• Store backups physically and digitally.

Fund Your Exit Plan

• Allocate savings just for relocation.

• If possible, hold some foreign currency or maintain an international account.

Share the Plan

• Talk with your household and close family.

• Set meeting points and designate a contact person.

Stay Flexible

• Keep track of international developments.

• Adjust your plan as new routes or risks emerge.

Relocation isn’t defeat. It’s an act of care—for yourself, for your future, and for those who depend on you.

Take Back Control Through Preparation

Creating a personal security plan isn’t about panic. It’s about power. Each step—from safeguarding documents to checking in with loved ones—builds stability in unstable times.

You don’t need to do everything at once. But the sooner you begin, the more control you regain. Every act of preparation becomes an act of resistance. It says: I matter. My family matters. Our freedom is worth protecting.

And remember: you’re not alone. Across the country, others are quietly preparing too—sharing resources, building networks, and choosing resilience over fear.

Stay connected. Stay safe. Stay free.