I want to try to compile resources about different community mobilization tactics for when ICE is conducting raids, specifically for all of the tenants/neighbors in the vicinity. I have heard of the whistle thing which I think is a smart piece of a puzzle but I want to try to help people build more cohesive acute support networks
a big part of the equation is making a network for actually verifying the presence of agents in real time, as false positives and such can leave people stuck at home in fear.
getting food pantry deliveries coordinated to families who don’t feel comfortable going out has been a nice thing I’ve seen as well
Thanks for this! We do have a response network that’s been established for a long time, but it has been impossible to connect with them. I’ve gone to like 2 trainings and signed up 2 or 3 times and haven’t gotten any response from them, which sucks. They do ICE verification, food distro, filming, attend court hearings with people etc. But I think I mean like, a confirmed ICE squad rolls up to an apartment building, are there any examples of organized community defense strategies in those circumstances besides documenting the detainment? I know people will block ICE with their cars or straight up chase ICE out of their neighborhoods, but it appears to me that those instances are pretty spontaneous in well-trafficked areas, so I am trying to think of ways to kinda systematize defense in particular areas so people can be prepared instead of reactive
An organization I would recommend for solid education and inspiration is Union del Barrio, just look for their instagram page. They are a M-L org with roots in the Chicano movement that is currently mostly focused on resisting ICE centered in southern California.
I don’t know what its going to be like in your area, because it depends on if police are cooperating or not, but what I have noticed is:
- Tell people that ICE is near and to not say anything! “La Migra! No diga nada!”
- Film! Always film, you are always legally allowed to film.
- If you are in a car, honk and/or cause a traffic disturbance if you are comfortable. They can not ticket you for traffic violations. You may still be detained for “obstructing investigation” and whatnot, so only go to these sort of lengths if you are OK spending a horrible night in ICE detention. Obviously don’t do this if you aren’t a US citizen and I would be very cautious if local police are openly collaborating with ICE.
- If you are pulled over by CBP or ICE, you can drive away. They have no right to perform random traffic stops and again, they can’t give you tickets for traffic violations.
Dope I will check that group out that’s perfect. Thanks for that advice. I guess the biggest thing with lowest risk is just to make as much noise as possible. Obviously not always the case but it seems like with even just a large group observing they are less likely to be as violent as they would otherwise
oh that does suck! hopefully you’re able to get involved.
I’ve also seen some body/car blocking but it’s very spontaneous and theres been concerns about potentially getting people injured in those interactions as ice cars have already straight up driven through people forming a chain
I’m honestly curious what could be done as well, because around here they started by staking out courthouses and now they’ve moved on to raiding things like big box stores and car washes
Same here. Started at the hearings office and they have had one or two raids…Now it seems that it’s really starting to escalate and get ugly here.
Learn tactics from cities that are already dealing with this, and work to employ them face to face with trusted members and groups in your community.
Build healthy digital security habits. Do not organize online, do not strategize online. Imo in this post you are asking people to document what could be considered crimes.
You mentioned you know of a local group. Start there and stay there.
Yeah, after I made this post I had the thought that maybe it was silly to make it in the first place. Though I’m not necessarily asking for illegal advice.
And yes, I see that other communities have been doing these things rather successfully but how do I learn from them? Just try to read as much news and watch as many instagram reels as I can, I guess?
I had the thought that maybe it was silly to make it in the first place
I get that feeling on every single post. Power on through.
lmao thank you for your encouragement
love you’re grand. Asking is the first step. Good luck
I’m not accusing you of wrongdoing or malice, but I think we don’t know right now what will be considered illegal if someone should be apprehended, and this kind of discussion is to be had in person with your community.
Your local org certainly is going to be a good resource for how to learn. My biggest advice is, redouble your efforts to get connected face to face and keep it all there. Even if it’s annoying and people are flaky, which does suck, I was sorry to read that.
Forgive me if I seem overly paranoid, I just want everyone to be safe.
No I totally get where you’re coming from and you are correct. Just feeling very desperate right now and I don’t think this kind of thing is something that our community has really come up against before so I think anyone in organizing circles really knows how to cohesively address everything. I might ask to have the post purged, thanks for being thoughtful about it
Step 1, dont despair. It’s what they want. They aren’t all powerful and they know it. They themself dont have unlimited funding, their IA tools are full of glitches, all they have are big guns. I mean how much do they even pay these goons?
Your community will have unique circumstances to address in its own way, but rest assured that this struggle has been going on for a very, very long time, and there are broad strokes things you can learn together quickly.
I really hope you’re able to get in touch with the trainings and organizers near you! You mentioned having gone to a couple of events already so bug those people I guess? Or anyone else you might know from that circle?
I have folks that I’m in touch with, but I think everyone is so dispersed because there are like 50 different things going on so there aren’t many people who are focusing their energy on working together to create a cohesive plan and I’m new to the scene so it kind of feels very disorganized.
I just want to warn: don’t use discord for organizing or electronic communication. It’s insecure and unencrypted. I’d use an encrypted messenger like Signal.
Definitely, been on signal for a while. I do love the layout of discord but know not to use it
CAARP in chicago has been a useful resource for educating people here about what & how to resist that I’ve found useful. They do have some on their calendar for public workshops you could attend online.
- Finding groups in your community willing to work on ICE spotting is square one.
- Joining or creating networks that can raise awareness of ICE operations, importantly being able to differentiate between real ICE sightings and mistaken ones.
- Make and/or distribute the little red cards (https://www.ilrc.org/redcards)
I’d recommend following the example of organizations like VC Defensa, they’re currently the gold standard right now AFAIK and what we model our Community Defense Network after
Focus on existing local networks of trustworthy organizations. If those don’t exist, you will need to build one, but if they do exist then you can just join one or work in coalition to massively increase your efficacy. Treat all actions like they are anti-cop actions but where the cops have even less discipline than usual. Don’t get arrested for pointless reasons, only risk arrest when there is an organized goal to achieve.
Organization is the key to all actions. Collecting tactics is useful in the context of organized action but can be counterproductive (so not always) when outside of that context.
I wish I had a better idea than to just keep your head down. There’s no real resources for meaningful resistance
time for a revolution.
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