Key Highlights
Activists Gear Up: ‘They Are Coming For You’
You might think this is new, but it’s not. The tension between federal immigration agencies and local activists has been simmering for years, only now reaching boiling point.
Nationwide, tens of thousands are preparing to step into the spotlight as “ICE watchers.” Organized by national protest groups, these volunteers will learn how to legally observe and record immigration officials’ activities. The goal? To track enforcement, provide support, and potentially prevent abuses against immigrants.
The Training Camp
On January 26, more than 147,000 people signed up for a one-hour online training session. They came from all over the country, not just Minneapolis or other “blue cities.” According to Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, this massive turnout signals a widespread concern among Americans about immigration enforcement.
Levin explained why these trainings are critical: “They are coming for you. ICE is not stopping in Minneapolis, Maine, L.A., or just the blue cities. If you want to be prepared for what to do when ICE is ransacking your community, now is the time to get trained up; that’s what we need people doing.”
The Deadly Cost
Amid this growing vigilance, two activists have already paid with their lives. Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti were shot by ICE agents while monitoring activities in Minnesota. Their deaths reignited debates over tactics used by community groups to track immigration officials.
“It is extraordinary organizing on the ground in defense of communities and neighbors,” Levin said, referring to the robust monitoring system developed in Minneapolis.
Training for Survival
The trainings offer practical information from ACLU and similar groups about how to legally observe and record immigration officials. Participants will learn what to do if told to stop recording. The next training is scheduled for February 5, with more planned before the March protests.
Levin emphasized that these trainings are essential: “It’s really every American’s responsibility to get trained up on what your rights are at this moment and to stand up for them, because if we’re not prepared to stand up for them, we don’t have them.”
The eyes of the nation—and the world—are watching. As the next wave of protests approaches, activists remain vigilant, ready to face whatever comes their way.