PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ICE
What these people are doing is disgusting and vile and needs to be stopped. But in the meantime, we all need to know how to protect ourselves and each other from ICE.
The goal of this post is to spread information, not to rant about the state of the country.
Also, sorry if the formatting is weird. I'm not used to making long text posts, but I wanted to get this information out there.
To start with,
What powers do ICE agents have?
Agents can stop, detain, and arrest people they suspect of being in the U.S. illegally. They can detain U.S. citizens in limited circumstances (if the citizen interferes with an arrest, assaults an officer, or is suspected of being in the U.S. illegally). However, there are many instances of ICE agents holding U.S. citizens against their will.
Under the U.S. Constitution, law enforcement "can only use deadly force if the person poses a serious danger to them or other people, or the person has committed a violent crime." But the U.S. Supreme Court has historically granted broad leniency to officers making in-the-moment decisions. A DHS police memo from 2023 says that federal officers "may use deadly force only when necessary" when they have "a reasonable belief that the subject of such forces poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury" to another person.
Border Patrol is a branch of law enforcement that is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency. It usually operates on the U.S. southern border, but now works further inland and aids ICE agents in conducting immigration stops in larger cities.
(Information from BBC News)
What can you do to protect yourself?
Create a safety plan
Identify your emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers.
Tell your loved ones that if you are detained by ICE, they can try to use ICE's online detainee locator to find you.
If you have a child:
Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your child.
Provide your child's school or daycare with an emergency contact to pick up your child.
Read about guardian considerations in the case you are deported or detained.
2. Defend your rights
If you are stopped by immigration officers or law enforcement:
Stay calm and don't run, argue, resist, or fight the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated or you are being treated unfairly.
Keep your hands where police can see them, and tell them if you need to reach into a glove compartment or grab a wallet to show your papers.
Don't lie about your status or provide false documents.
If you are pulled over in a traffic stop:
Ask if the officer is from the police department or immigration. Immigration officers often identify themselves as "police," but they are not police.
Ask if they are from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If they are immigration officers, follow the guidelines below.
If you are a U.S. citizen/have lawful immigration status:
Show your passport, legal permanent resident card, work permit, or other documentation of your status.
If you are over the age of 18, you should carry your papers with you at all times.
If you are undocumented:
You do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with the police, immigration agents, or other officials. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you tell an officer can be used against you in immigration court.
If an officer knocks on your door:
Do not open the door. Teach your children not to open the door. Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home.
ICE "warrants" are not signed by judges; they are ICE forms signed by ICE officers and do not grant authority to enter a home without consent of the occupant.
If you are outdoors and think you see immigration officers nearby:
Move to a safe indoor space.
If you are a U.S. citizen and feel safe to do so, record the activity or write down any relevant information about what you witness. Always be careful to not interfere or obstruct the operation.
Don't post unverified information on social media.
Don't interfere with the investigation or otherwise put yourself in harm's way.
(Information from National Immigrant Justice Center)
What information should you have when you report ICE?
To make it easier for hotlines to make an accurate report and prevent panic, you need to be as specific as possible when describing the situation. You can use the SALUTE method to remember what information you should have:
SIZE - How many agents/officers?
ACTIVITY - What are they doing?
LOCATION - Address or intersection/neighborhood
UNIFORM - Letters, patches visible on jackets, vests, vehicles
TIME - When did you witness this?
EQUIPMENT - What do they have with them?
(Information from Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition)
New England Hotlines
Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, Maine: 207-544-9989
Mt. Washington Valley Rapid Response Team, New Hampshire: 603-726-6680
NH Solidarity Network, New Hampshire: 978-219-7586
LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts, Massachusetts: 617-370-5023
Vermont Migrant Justice, Vermont: 802-881-7229
New Haven Rapid Response, Connecticut: 854-666-4472
AMOR Rhode Island Defense Line, Rhode Island: 401-675-1414
(Information from Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition)
Unfortunately, I only have knowledge of reliable hotlines in New England and don't want to misinform anyone. If anyone has reliable hotlines in other regions, or any more useful information about ICE, please add to this post or message me so I can edit it.
Stay safe out there, I love you all <3
