How to Protect Your Friends, Family, and Neighbors from ICE During Mass Deportations
Confluence Daily is your daily news source for women in the know.
By: Lisa M. Hayes
With mass deportations looming under the Trump administration, the stakes have never been higher for undocumented individuals and their communities. Protecting friends, family, and neighbors during this time requires discretion, solidarity, and strategic action. Here’s a thorough guide on how to support vulnerable individuals ethically and effectively.
Understand Their Rights
Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in protecting against deportation. Everyone in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, has rights:
- The Right to Remain Silent: If approached by ICE, individuals do not have to answer questions about their immigration status. They can say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
- The Right to Refuse Entry Without a Warrant: ICE cannot enter a home without a warrant signed by a judge. Administrative warrants issued by ICE are not sufficient.
- The Right to an Attorney: Everyone has the right to legal representation. Undocumented individuals should not sign anything without consulting a lawyer.
What You Can Do:
- Share “Know Your Rights” materials in multiple languages. Organizations like the ACLU and United We Dream provide downloadable resources.
- Host community workshops to educate people about their rights during ICE encounters.
Help Develop an Emergency Plan
Encourage undocumented individuals to prepare for worst-case scenarios. A solid emergency plan can minimize chaos and provide clarity during difficult moments.
Key Components of an Emergency Plan:
- Important Documents: Ensure copies of IDs, passports, birth certificates, and immigration papers are stored in a secure place.
- Emergency Contacts: Identify trusted individuals who can help with children, property, or pets if someone is detained.
- Legal Representation: Find and connect with an immigration lawyer or local legal aid organization in advance.
- Financial and Property Arrangements: Set up power of attorney to manage finances or property if needed.
What You Can Do:
- Offer to help neighbors or family members organize their documents and connect with legal resources.
- Direct individuals to organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center for guidance on emergency planning.
Stay Vigilant About ICE Activity
ICE often uses tactics like raids, workplace enforcement, and community arrests to detain undocumented individuals. Being informed and prepared can help protect your community.
What to Do:
- Know the Signs: ICE agents sometimes pose as local law enforcement. Learn how to distinguish them and verify their authority.
- Monitor and Report: Use community networks or apps like Notifica to alert others about ICE activity in real time.
- Record Safely: Document any ICE interactions you witness from a safe distance. These records can provide critical evidence of rights violations.
Practice Discretion
Discretion is vital to keeping your community safe. ICE relies on tips and information to locate individuals, so being mindful of what you share is essential.
What to Do:
- Limit Social Media Posts: Avoid tagging or posting about vulnerable individuals, and double-check privacy settings.
- Deflect Questions: If asked about a neighbor’s immigration status, stay neutral. Responses like “I don’t know much about that” or “They’ve been here forever” can protect their privacy.
- Be a Reliable Witness: Document ICE actions but never volunteer information about anyone’s whereabouts.
Build and Support Rapid Response Networks
Rapid response networks can mobilize quickly to support individuals during ICE raids or detentions. These networks provide:
- Observers: People trained to document ICE actions to ensure accountability.
- Legal Resources: Immediate connection to attorneys or legal aid organizations.
- Temporary Shelter: Safe spaces for individuals at risk.
What You Can Do:
- Join or start a rapid response network in your area.
- Share contact information for local hotlines or response teams. Organizations like Faith in Action or the National Immigration Law Center can provide guidance.
Offer Practical and Emotional Support
Deportations are not just legal battles—they’re emotional and logistical crises. Offering tangible support can make a big difference.
What to Do:
- Provide Transportation: Help individuals get to legal appointments or connect with resources.
- Offer Childcare or Pet Care: Families facing detentions often struggle with immediate logistics.
- Be a Source of Encouragement: Check in regularly with those affected, reminding them they are not alone.
Create and Advocate for Sanctuary Spaces
Sanctuary spaces—churches, community centers, and homes—can offer short-term protection for individuals at risk of deportation.
What to Do:
- Advocate for your local faith-based or community organizations to declare themselves sanctuary spaces.
- Volunteer to support sanctuary efforts, such as providing meals, transportation, or logistical help.
Advocate for Policy Change
Preventing deportations requires action beyond the immediate crisis. Advocate for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels.
What to Do:
- Support sanctuary city policies and ordinances limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE.
- Contact your representatives to demand humane immigration policies.
- Oppose programs like 287(g), which deputize local law enforcement to act as ICE agents.
Stay Prepared and Informed
Immigration policies and enforcement tactics can change quickly. Staying informed ensures you’re ready to act when needed.
What to Do:
- Follow immigrant rights organizations like United We Dream, the ACLU, and local advocacy groups for updates and training opportunities.
- Subscribe to newsletters or attend webinars to stay ahead of policy changes.
A Community United
Protecting friends, family, and neighbors from ICE isn’t just about resistance—it’s about building a network of trust, solidarity, and care. By staying informed, discreet, and united, you can help ensure that no one faces this fight alone.
Mass deportations may feel overwhelming, but collective action offers hope. Together, we can create a community that values dignity, justice, and compassion for all.
Lisa Hayes is a life coach, writer, and editor of Confluence Daily, specializing in social issues, political issues, and mental health. Her work has appeared in publications like Huffington Post and Real Simple. She is also the Communications Director for a local fire department in Mexico and runs a life coach training program called The Coaching Guild.
