Volunteers Alert Immigrants to ICE Presence with Bullhorns

In the early hours of the morning, a group of 10 individuals gathered at a shared parking lot of a laundromat and coffee shop in South Central Los Angeles. They were embarking on a mission that has become a routine — spotting immigration officers and alerting the community to help prevent detentions. As they prepared with bullhorns and sirens, there was a heightened sense of vigilance.

“One of our members reported people have been detained,” said Ron Gochez, head of the Los Angeles chapter of Union del Barrio, before they dispersed among five vehicles. “We’re noticing increased activity. Let’s keep vigilant.”

Aligning with other small groups and utilizing walkie-talkies, the Community Self-Defense Coalition, comprising over 60 organizations, has been working actively. While they found no issues on Thursday, they believed their presence had disrupted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement procedures earlier in the week. Strategies like these have proven troublesome for ICE as it attempts to execute mass deportations promised by then-President Donald Trump.

Lupe Carrasco Cardona, in an Instagram live update on Sunday, broadcasted that ICE agents were present at the Alhambra Target. Amidst sirens, she pointed out six government vehicles associated with the operation.

John Fabbricatore, a former ICE enforcement leader in Denver, acknowledged the substantial impact of these counter-operations. “It compromises officer safety as they navigate arrests, sometimes undercover, without causing alarm, but these groups escalate the situation with loudspeakers.” He noted that such activities skirt legality to avoid prosecution.

Activists argue they exercise free speech and educate people on their rights. ICE agents, they remind, cannot enter homes without a judicial warrant, which is rarely held. Advanced “know-your-rights” campaigns advise staying indoors and not answering the door when unsure.

For years, including under Trump’s administration, ICE has faced challenges from advocates using social media, texts, and loudspeakers to disseminate alerts. Tom Homan, Trump’s border manager, openly expressed frustration when activists interfered with ICE efforts in Denver, alleging information leaks diminished their arrest effectiveness.

Following ICE inquiries, the Department of Homeland Security has been silent on activist tactics or operations in Los Angeles this week. Although direct arrest numbers are withheld, Homan disclosed 21,000 recent arrests, which averages over 600 daily, doubling the figures from President Joe Biden’s administration’s year-long period ending September 30.

In the Los Angeles vicinity, around 150 volunteers mobilized on Sunday responding to rumors of ICE movements, successfully halting arrests in Alhambra and San Fernando, as per organizers. Volunteers convene pre-dawn, timing it with workers heading out when ICE is likely to act. They scrutinize neighborhood streets for signs like specific vehicle placements that could indicate ICE presence.

When ICE officers are detected, the volunteers quickly document the encounter, activate the sirens, and vocally alert the neighborhood using megaphones. “We declare their presence,” says Gochez, illustrating their method.

“We maintain a non-violent and law-abiding stance while doing everything legal to defend our community,” Gochez emphasized.

After their efforts on Thursday had concluded, the city began to stir awake. A street vendor unfurled her tamales workstation on a nearby corner. “We’ve just been informed that our patrols across San Diego, Escondido, Los Angeles, South Gate, and Alhambra report no further ICE activities currently,” Gochez announced, commencing to his role as a high school history teacher.