What to know about the ICE raids in NYC right now
A quick guide on what to do if you come across ICE in NYC, as a victim or bystander
The Trump administration came out of the gate with about as gaudy and cruel of an immigration crackdown as they could muster, a fact that’s as sad as it was predictable. The shock-and-awfulness of it all is pretty nakedly part publicity stunt — some of it fanned by false alarms on TikTok and Instagram, and some by real alarms from the White House’s in-house propaganda films filmed in the style of Cops, complete with celebrity guest star “Dr.” Phil.
But the effects are rippling through New York City in very real and major ways: more than 100 people have been detained so far; restaurant staff are afraid to go to work, school attendance is dropping and in Brooklyn’s Little Haiti, “nobody’s in the streets,” even legal immigrants. One organization moved in-person ESL classes online. Rather than acting as a firewall against the feds, the Adams administration has instead jumped at opportunities to go along with the deportation machine, perhaps fishing for a pardon.
The mood is bleak out there for anyone not blindingly white, as one friend from South America told me this week: even though she’s legally in this country, she’s nervous.
“I think the vibe right now is everybody is trying to be ready for the worst,” she said. “Pretty much everybody I know is getting to-go bags and passports and all these things ready.”
The panic and chilling effect is, of course, part of the point of these executive orders, and the administration is reveling in the thought of people cowering in their apartments, afraid of a knock. Whether you’re worried for yourself or worried for your neighbors, one to way to fight this feeling is to take some time to avail yourself of the vast trove of resources available across the city that offer advice on what to do when Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes knocking, and how to be a helpful ally if you see an immigration sweep going down.
We’ve rounded up a list of quick know-your-rights resources and other key things to know in order to protect both yourself and your fellow New Yorkers:
Do I have to let ICE into my apartment building?
No. Unless ICE has a judicial warrant (which they don’t usually have, according to the Legal Aid Society), you don’t have to let them in, as laid out in this guide from BrickUnderground. A landlord can’t kick anyone out because of immigration status, and they can’t call ICE either. As with interactions with all law enforcement, don’t open the door even a little bit, and keep your mouth shut.
Do I have to let ICE into my school?
No. There have been no attempted raids on schools yet, though who knows if the creeps in charge might get hopped up enough on memes to do it. The Department of Education issued guidance for immigrant students and parents, including a reminder that ICE cannot enter a school without a warrant. The tips include updating contact information and naming a court-appointed standby guardian for kids. Gothamist reports teachers have formed encrypted chats and “rapid response networks” to mobilize if ICE arrives at a school.
Do I have to let ICE into my job?
Maybe. ICE can enter spaces that are open to the public, such as a restaurant, but not private spaces, such as an office or storage room. For more about what you can and can’t do to protect yourself and your immigrant coworkers, read the Immigrant Workers Resource Guide from the city comptroller for more info.
How can I be an ally when I see an ICE raid going down?
Document it. The main strategy activists say to use is to document everything. Film the action, and focus on the ICE agents, not the people they’re apprehending. Save the video but don’t livestream or share it because you might reveal the identities of the raided. Save the files for journalists or lawyers who might need it later. You have the right to film, and you don’t have to take my word for it because Fiona Apple can explain it too.
For a full rundown of rights and a deportation defense manual, visit this helpful guide — with downloadable poster and info cards – from Make the Road New York, and this guide from Documented.
How can I, a dummy on this issue, get up to speed quickly?
It's ok, there are many horrors right now and everyone is a dummy about some of them. Today (Feb. 6) at 7pm, you can catch a Zoom presentation by the New York Legal Assistance Group on the rights and protections for immigrants in the city, legal resources and more expectations from the new administration.
On Feb. 25, the Central Brooklyn branch of the Democratic Socialists of America are meeting to discuss Trump’s attacks on immigrants, and how New Yorkers can respond, along with a know-your-rights training session.
Is it still legal to let an immigrant make you laugh?
Yes! It’s not all dour out there, and Friday happens to be your chance to catch the latest installment of Immigrant Jam, a comedy show at Caveat that “celebrates the beauty of everything cross cultural, deliciously different and not from here.”
The city is blessed with resources for immigrants of all stripes; what we’re not blessed with, right now, is leaders who we can be sure have your back and won’t let ICE run rampant in the city in exchange for a pardon, or maybe just some extra legroom.
“We don’t want to be afraid, it is not the first time we have been through this and we are very resistant,” Rosanna Rodriguez, co-executive director of the Laundry Workers Center, told Documented last week “but we have to be ready and prepared.”
Gaby Del Valle
Comments ()