How to Responsibly Share ICE Raid Information on Social Media
Donald Trump’s policies separate parents and children at the border, but immigration and customs officials are also tearing families apart in communities across the United States. You’ve probably seen posts on Facebook and elsewhere that used to alert people to raids in your area. Here’s how to find out if you should share them.
Not all of these messages are helpful, and they can quickly cause confusion and distrust. It is also an emotional stress for people who are afraid of deportation to constantly avoid places in their community when they do not need it. DRUM NYC is a non-profit organization that, among other things, has been working to defend the rights of immigrants since 2000. In 2017, they shared a checklist of when to know whether to share information and what to do if you suspect ICE agents have opened a store on your block. This is still true today.
Know what’s really going on
There are a number of officials who can stop and arrest people on immigration issues, in addition to ICE – the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and just the regular police. Police activity can be the most difficult to register because it often continues. They can work with ICE, DHS, and CPC to set up checkpoints or stops to request documents and interrogate people, often outside busy areas such as schools. Checkpoints can take several hours.
Then there were arrests and searches. In such cases, a group of officials will break into a building or area in search of, possibly, one particular person. But they could potentially arrest any immigrant they come across during a search.
What to do
If you see something like this happening in real time, you should take pictures of the officials (not the people arrested) if it is safe to do so and note the time, date and place. You should also try to find out who the officials are and what cars or settings they have. This is your first hand account and with a photo you can post it to social media.
If this is your own report, or if it comes from a trusted source, you should prioritize contact with people in the area who you know are at risk. DRUM recommends notifying the LegalAidSociety in New York, but getting to know other organizations that support immigrant communities in litigation in your area. You can also share this information through warning messages and Know Your Rights Lists. Actually, read them. Know your rights!
What not to do
Most of us are not actually present in person during a raid or checkpoint. If you see a report with no top marks (time, place, date, photo), it can be difficult to tell how legitimate it is. Spreading false information can further isolate marginalized communities and also prevent people from believing in a warning when it is legal.
To support verification efforts, never take a screenshot of the warning, and never copy and paste. People should be able to see the original source of the report. If you are unsure, check with local organizations such as DRUM who are trained to go out into the field and document these incidents. If you can, reach out directly to the people of your concern to discuss it with them, but make it clear that this is not confirmed.
Publishing a post to Facebook can be incredibly rewarding, but not when you’re unsure of what you’re sharing. Be responsible and look at the source.