80,000 on a Call - How Citizens Are Beginning to Monitor ICE Themselves

Nearly 80,000 people logged into a video conference on Monday evening to learn how to monitor ICE. What is meant is documenting operations in public - nonviolent and protected by the Constitution. In the comments, states appeared such as Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, Florida. Others wrote why they were participating: ICE out of their neighborhoods, abolition of the agency. “The fact that we are all here gives me hope that we will get through this together,” one participant wrote. Within one day, another 200,000 people watched the recording on YouTube. The surge came two days after the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and less than three weeks after the death of Renee Good at the hands of a federal officer. “Two of my neighbors were killed, but because ordinary people are documenting ICE, we can show what really happened to Renee and Alex,” said a Minneapolis resident named Marjorie. “And we can record what is happening in our community so that people do not simply disappear.”

In the Twin Cities, in Phoenix, in Southern California, the raids continue. Organizers report that the killings have prompted thousands to join local observer groups. Many eyes on the ground change the situation. A strong presence can influence operations. The chair of the Minneapolis City Council, Elliott Payne, said this week: “Because so many patrols were out, several abductions were prevented.” Even long-time observers from the Northwest to the Southeast say they are more determined than ever. Despite growing violence during operations, despite threats, despite their work being labeled “domestic terrorism” by government officials after the deaths. Video footage and witness statements contradicted the White House’s claim that Pretti’s death had been self-defense. For the organizers, that is precisely the proof of why monitoring is necessary.

“I am afraid, clearly,” a sentence one unfortunately hears very often.