This story is part of Holding the Line in Queens, an ongoing series examining issues important to members of New York City’s immigrant communities. Leer en Español.
When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrest someone in your neighborhood, it can disrupt the lives of the people taken, their loved ones, and the neighborhood more generally. ICE watch movements and rapid response groups have sprung up across the city in order to document and respond to federal agents detaining community members. But before and after the agents leave, the community can step in.
When ICE arrests a person, the impacts are felt by many people in the neighborhood. This guide aims to look further than telling people what their rights are and to help people build long-term relationships with their immigrant neighbors and help them at this moment in time.
Documented spoke to several mutual aid organizers, business owners, legal service providers, and active community members to collect their tips on how you can help your neighbors if they are at risk of or have been arrested by ICE.
Build a network early
The vast majority of people told Documented that it’s key to build relationships with people in your neighborhood long before someone is taken. Being in regular contact with everyone in your community will make it easier to mobilize to help your neighbors.
You should:
- Open yourself up to speaking to people in your community. A simple hello can go a long way. While it may be awkward at first, don’t give up on building connections.
- Build relationships with businesses that many people frequent, like laundromats, coffee shops or supermarkets. It can be helpful for you to introduce yourself and say that you’re hoping to stay in touch about things that are happening in the neighborhood, including potential ICE enforcement actions.
- Create a group chat on WhatsApp or Signal with your neighbors.
It’s important not just to see this community building as a one-off effort. Instead you should try to regularly check in with everyone.
Plan ahead
If you or someone you know is worried about being arrested or deported by ICE, it is important for them to have a security plan in place and have their documents organized and easily accessible. Being prepared can make a big difference in an immigrant’s case: lawyers often have to act quickly to help their clients before they may be moved to a facility in a different state or deported.
If you’re at risk or know someone at risk, you can help them and do the following:
- Ensure they have all their documents in one place, including passports, immigration paperwork and medical paperwork.
- Make sure they designate a person they are close to as an emergency contact and let that person know where all their paperwork is.
- Make emergency plans for childcare, for financial and business matters, and for legal representation.
You can find a more detailed guide on how to prepare your finances, childcare and more if you fear being deported or detained by ICE here or you can find a printable version of that here.
Gather crucial information
It’s hard to know when ICE may arrest a neighbor, but there are two things that could be helpful.
First, if you happen to witness the community member being detained and feel safe to do so, you should film the arrest so you can potentially identify the person who was arrested later.
Make sure you keep these things in mind when filming:
- Keep a safe distance from the officers.
- Do not interfere with the officers.
- Try to film them horizontally to capture more of the scene.
- Try to capture important information about the ICE officers (what weapons or papers they are holding, what they say, etc.).
- If you can, ask the person being arrested for their name and date of birth.
Secondly, you can try to identify who was arrested by ICE and try to connect their family or loved ones with resources and legal services.
Here are some steps you can take to help identify who has been taken:
- Try to find an image or footage of the arrest.
- Use a screenshot of this footage or the image of the face of who was taken by ICE and ask people who live in the neighborhood who may know the person. Landlords may also be helpful to speak to.
- Check with people working in small businesses if they recognize the person. Laundromats can be particularly helpful.
- If you are able to successfully identify family or friends of the person who was arrested, be ready to give them useful information such as legal resources and nonprofits that may be able to help.
- Be patient and calm when contacting loved ones or friends of the person who was arrested. Many experience shock, disbelief or grief when receiving this kind of news.
These reputable organizations provide legal help:
- The Legal Aid Society: legalaidnyc.org
- Bronx Defenders: bronxdefenders.org
- Brooklyn Defender Services: bds.org
- Make the Road New York: maketheroadny.org
- UnLocal: unlocal.org
You can find a more detailed guide on steps to take after someone has been arrested by ICE here or you can find a printable version of that here.
