San José, CA – On November 7, around 100 protestors gathered at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San José to condemn the recent increase in ICE operations throughout the city. The Santa Clara Rapid Response Network has confirmed up to six operations so far in November, two of which occurred on the same day, as well as ICE presence at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Santa Clara County.

In early October, Trump announced the start of Operation Safe California and enacted a 45-day ICE surge throughout the state.

“The Trump administration is unleashing a wave of attacks in response to our victories. With people power we gained moratoriums on ICE leasing land in San José and Gilroy,” declared Uriel Magdaleno of Community Service Organization San José (CSO SJ). Gilroy City Council passed a 45-day moratorium banning any new ICE detention facilities on October 5 and extended it an extra 10 months and 15 days on November 6. However, the City Council failed to pass a no staging ordinance policy against ICE.

“It is not a surprise that Operation Safe California is the same length as the moratoriums,” Magdaleno continued. “We will continue the Chicano movement and do barrio walks and demand killer ICE of our streets and legalization for all.” CSO San José advocates that legal status for all 11 million undocumented immigrants will keep families safe from immediate deportation and end discrimination based on legal status as a whole.

Samantha Rojas, of Defensoras Patient Organizing Committee stated, “I’ve heard directly from community members whose fear of immigration enforcement has caused them to delay medical appointments.” Rojas advocated that immigration enforcement should not bleed into healthcare and warned of the impacts to immigrants.

“Operation Safe California only seeks to endanger and brutalize immigrants and Chicanos for rightfully standing up and fighting back against national oppression unleashed by the most reactionary elements of the ruling imperialist class,” stated Adam Charvez of the San José Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Charvez highlighted similar operations throughout history since the annexation of the Southwest by the United States, most notably Operation Wetback, where mass deportations were carried out against Chicanos and Mexicanos. Charvez noted that the operation is mostly concentrated in cities with large Chicano demographics.

Protestors began to march to the historic intersection of Story and King after the rally, chanting “Killer ICE off our streets” and demanding legalization for all. During the march, there was a large police presence as protestors continued to chant “Whose streets? Our streets!” as a response. As the march came to an end, Jessica Aviles with CSO SJ made a call for attendees to join an upcoming barrio walk where know-your-rights information is handed out in neighborhoods with high concentrations of immigrant and Chicano residents.

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #CSOSJ #ICE

Denver, CO – In the late morning of November 2, Denver Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) gathered in the Lawrence Street Plaza on the Auraria Campus for a celebration on Dia de los Muertos.

Members of Denver SDS set up an ofrenda with pictures of and offerings for people murdered by ICE. Around the ofrenda were at least a dozen pages of ICE victims’ names from 2003, the year the agency was established, until now.

“In Mexico, this tradition is a communal one; neighbors, members of the community, come together at cemeteries to remember those who are loved amongst them,” stated Emil Mondragón, a member of Aurora Unidos CSO, “And this is exactly what we’re doing today, to remember those who have passed in our communities, in this country at the hands of ICE, DHS, and the presidential administration.”

Students chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for bombs and deportations!” and “When la raza are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

For nearly two years, Denver SDS has been fighting for the Auraria Board of Administrators (ABoD) to pass a policy that bans ICE from campus entirely. However, despite trying to negotiate with ABoD, campus admin still declines anything that may risk their federal funding – even if it would benefit 40% Latino/Chicano student body.

In the 1970s, the Auraria campus was founded and built around, and eventually upon, the historically Chicano and Latino neighborhood of the same name. Campus founders forced out generations of Latino families, with a belated and false promise of financial support of future students from the neighborhood. Now there are only a few houses standing, and most of them are occupied by CU Denver and MSU Denver fraternity and department offices, with few still housing families.

“I’m standing on the graveyard of Mexican businesses and Mexican families, and this was a Latin neighborhood, and a majority of the people here spoke Spanish,” said Rodolfo Antonio “Tony” Rojas of Denver SDS, “This institute is supposed to serve us, and it doesn’t. It’s pretty pathetic and we shouldn’t be in this situation.”

Despite the struggle against ABoD’s refusal to pass a policy banning ICE on campus, Denver SDS will continue the fight to protect their fellow students and community members alike.

#DenverCO #CO #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DiaDeLosMuertos

Tampa, FL – On a Sunday evening, November 1, activists with the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee held a Dia de los Muertos celebration to honor the people killed by ICE and commit to the fight for those currently in detention and living under ICE terror.

The event was attended by about a dozen people, as well as more who passed by and joined in. Organizers set up an ofrenda with the names of those ICE has killed, as well as chalkboards to allow for folks to write in the names of those they would like to honor, which included recently-passed Community Service Organization and United Farm Worker organizer Dolores Huerta.

The mood was somber and defiant as speakers connected the holiday with Tampa’s collaboration with ICE in the form of the 287(g) agreement, which allows local law enforcement to act as immigration enforcement and notify ICE when an undocumented person is arrested. The Tampa Police Department has signed on to this agreement since 2025 and has taken at least $430,000 to train their officers for immigration enforcement.

Tampa IRC member Nico Baisley stated, “We’re here to remember the dead and fight for the living. We’re here to remember the people who died in the horrid, inhuman conditions inside for-profit detention centers. People like Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a green card holder from Mexico, with several pre-existing medical conditions, who was found dead in the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo.”

Lizette Chavez, daughter of Adelaido Chavez, the Seffner man arrested and brutalized by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies before being handed over to ICE and taken to Baker Correctional Institute, spoke about the horrible conditions there before her father was released.

Chavez stated, “No AC during hot summer months, where it almost reached 100 degrees at times. My father dealt with a lack of hygiene related items, like bars of soap, simply to be able to shower.” Chavez also emphasized the need to continue organizing for people who are still detained.

The event raised demands for ICE to get out of Tampa, for Tampa to end its collaboration with ICE, and for justice for those killed by ICE, CPB and DHS. Several attendees spoke later with the organizers about getting more involved in the fight.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DiaDeLosMuertos

Minneapolis, MN – Over 100 people gathered for a celebration of Día de los Muertos on Sunday, November 1. The event is hosted annually by El Colegio High School and Danza Ketzal Coatlicue and supported by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

This year the event included dance performances, a display of altars created by the hosting organizations and community members, and food. The main altar honored those who were killed at the hands of ICE since Trump started his second term. The altar had 108 candles, one for each person killed, each with their name and photograph.

The program began with a procession led by a banner that read: “7 days since ICE murdered – that we know of,” followed by the danza group at the front and community members following. The procession ended at the high school with a dance performance outside. The community was then invited inside to see the altars and enjoy food, community and a few speakers.

MIRAC member Mari Mansfield spoke at the event, “ICE’s reign of terror is so relentless that by the time we finished making the candles, ICE had killed again! 108 candles lit for the people killed by ICE – these candles also symbolize the passion and resistance that burns within us, because all the 108 people were a light in this world and we cannot rest until they get justice!”

Mansfield also highlighted MIRAC’s current campaign to make Minnesota a sanctuary state and the immigrant rights movement’s continued fight against ICE terror.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIRAC #DiaDeLosMuertos #OppressedNationalities #Featured

Los Angeles, CA – On November 1, Centro CSO members handed out know your rights leaflets during a Dia De Los Muertos Cultural event at Belvedere Park Lake. There have been many ICE kidnappings at Belvedere Park Lake in the past couple months.

On the morning of November 1, an unmarked car with two ICE agents was forced to leave after being confronted by Chicanos who spotted the agents parked in the middle of an LA County public parking lot.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna now confirms that multiple people have been taken by ICE after being released from the jail at East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. The masked ICE agents have been seen parked directly in front of the sheriff's station, lying in wait. Many videos have shown ICE agents chasing people through the park, terrorizing the surrounding residents of East LA.

This escalated activity comes during ICE surge “Operation Safe California” which began in San Diego on October 1.

Verita Topete, co-chair of Centro CSO’s immigration committee, stated, “We’re living under constant repression from ICE, and we can’t afford to sit back when our community needs us. This is when we need to show up for our people.”

During the barrio walk, the LA sheriffs came out of the station and put up a perimeter with yellow tape and parked their cars up front, basically closing the station to the public.

Mayra Plascenia of Centro CSO stated, “Protecting our barrio is not a crime, it's a must here in East LA. The East LA sheriff's station can't protect us, but they're protecting ICE! ”

The attendees of the Dia De Los Muertos event were receptive and the organizers of the event thanked Centro CSO for being there providing Know Your Rights information and an extra layer of security against ICE.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – On the evening of Monday, October 26, over 30 Chicanos marched on the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department station to denounce the collaboration of ICE and East LA Sheriffs. In California and LA county there are laws and policies that are supposed to limit and ban the collaboration of local police and federal ICE agents.

In October alone, at least three people have been kidnapped by masked ICE agents just feet outside the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department station at Belvedere Park Lake. There have also been videos circulated online that show masked ICE agents staging in a parking lot directly in front of the sheriff’s station.

This collaboration comes as part of “Operation Safe California,” the 45-day immigration enforcement surge launched by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

The protest was organized by Centro CSO and began with a program of speakers from Centro CSO, Check the Sheriff Coalition and the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights network.

Brianna Mosqueda of CSO’s Immigration Committee told the crowd, “We're here together as a group, as Centro CSO and we are not going anywhere, we are here to demand the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stop collaborating with ICE.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo of the CSO Police Accountability Committee stated, “The people have a right to know how our community is being policed, who is doing so, and how our resources are being utilized. This clear collaboration of ICE and sheriffs has to be stopped immediately to protect our community from further harm.”

Verita Topete, chair of Centro CSO’s Immigration Committee, said, “For generations, Raza in Aztlán have lived under a system that criminalizes us on one side and targets us for deportation on the other. Police violence and ICE repression work together to control and silence our people. This is national oppression, and we refuse to accept it!”

After the program, the community marched on the East Los Angeles Sheriff Station. Marchers chanted, “La migra, la policía, la misma porqueria!”

The protesters went through the yellow tape that the sheriffs put up to stop the people from reaching the station, which is supposed to be open to the public. The sheriff deputies quickly locked the station doors as the crowd of angry Chicanos approached, and the protesters proceeded to chant and bang on the glass doors.

Folks in attendance said the sheriff’s deputies will do whatever they can to stop protest, but the same deputies will look the other away when masked ICE agents kidnap raza from the public park outside. The protest ended with organizers telling those in attendance to sign up at the table and stay involved. To stay up to date, make sure to follow Centro CSO on all socials.

Update: On the morning of October 31, another person was kidnapped by ICE after being released from the custody of the sheriff's department, a clear sign that there is ongoing collaboration between LA sheriffs and ICE.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #Chicano #ICE #LASD

Burien, WA — On the night of October 26, in the City Council room of the Burien Library in the metropolitan area of Seattle, grassroots organizers and community members celebrated the passage of Ordinance 911 by unanimous vote of the Burien City Council, implementing a 6-month moratorium on detention centers. This is recognized as the first step to buy time for the council to formulate and pass a permanent ban through the city land-use code.

The idea for a ban on detention centers in Burien came from the King County Immigrant Rights Alliance (KCIRA), a new and growing organization dedicated to building a broad fight-back against ICE and their local collaborators. The combination of KCIRA’s persistent pressure, bringing the need for a detention center moratorium to both the community and council, and a friendly city council resulted in a swift victory on their campaign of less than three months. Now, organizers are preparing to bring the lessons of this win to the community and build their forces for the next fight.

Why a detention center moratorium, and why Burien?

“With Trump’s accelerating attacks on immigrants across the United States, targeting a quota of 3,000 immigration arrests per day, ICE is running up against a physical infrastructure problem,” said Joseph Ostheller, a KCIRA organizer. “Documents between ICE and the private contractor GEO Group, who runs the for-profit Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma less than 25 miles south of here, indicate that ICE wants more space to wrongly imprison people. All over the country, the Trump administration is looking to build as many of these concentration camps as they can.”

The problem for ICE and GEO Group, however, is that a 2018 change to Tacoma’s land use code cut off legal avenues for private contractors like GEO to build or expand new detention center capacity. While the question of compliance and enforcement by Tacoma City Council isn’t guaranteed, organizers from KCIRA say they fear GEO Group could attempt to expand their operations for ICE in King County instead.

This fear has been shared by communities all across the county, resulting in a series of jurisdictions passing moratoriums on the construction of new detention centers, such as the cities of Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Kent, as well as the unincorporated areas of King County itself.

When asked about why they chose Burien as the site for their first campaign, Ostheller said, “Burien is a small, yet very diverse city of over 50,000 people, with over a quarter of those being first-generation immigrants. In recent months, Burien and its surrounding areas have seen an intense increase in immigration terror, detentions, and violence from federal agents. It is also next to King County Airfield, the airport that ICE uses to conduct its deportation and transfer flights, making it a prime target for expansion of ICE’s operations.”

Lessons and next steps

The biggest lesson organizers are taking away from this first step is that grassroots movements are needed to make change happen even with progressive politicians. Since the last election cycle, Burien City Council has had a progressive supermajority that set up a special committee to address the concerns of immigrants in the local area. However, when organizers from KCIRA began their work on their campaign, the council had only gone as far as non-binding resolutions. After their efforts, work began immediately on developing a detention center moratorium. Thanks to this pressure, both KCIRA and the city council are looking to go further.

While a temporary moratorium was the KCIRA’s first demand, the struggle continues for a permanent ban through the city's land use codes, and even further to ban the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) such as FLOCK and Axon cameras that ICE is using to track and detain people across the country.

Now that their first major victory is under their belt, immigrant rights organizers in King County say they are eager to turn up the heat and work even harder to bring more immigrants, supporters, and family members into the fight.

#BurienWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DetentionCenter

Dallas, TX – On October 14, organizers with the Dallas chapter of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR Dallas) spoke at Dallas City Hall to call for the city council to move forward a resolution denouncing the crimes of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanding for an independent investigation into ICE violence.

Lili Delgado, an organizer with NAARPR Dallas, said at the open mic period, “Dallas City Council has a responsibility towards its residents, be they documented or undocumented. We demand the city of Dallas issue an official statement denouncing ICE shootings and killings and also pledges to use all its available powers to investigate directly or fund an independent investigation in the event of an ICE shooting or killing here in Dallas.”

Delgado continued, “This is about actions and not just words and we have to ensure that there are independent investigations into these shootings; it is our duty to our community to ensure there is justice for the actual events.”

ICE has shot at least 24 people since last year, including Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed by ICE in Houston earlier this year, and Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was shot and is being held captive by ICE in Austin.

#DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KillerCops #KillerICE

Bozeman, MT – On Thursday, October 15, the Bozeman chapter of Montana for Palestine (MT4P) learned that the newly-published agenda for the upcoming October 20 City Commission meeting contained a vote to approve a five-year, $2.4 million contract with Axon Enterprise Inc.

Despite Axon's collaboration with the terrorist Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they were selected to replace the Bozeman Police Department's aging body cameras, in-car camera systems, and tasers. Over the next five days, MT4P both reached out to commissioners, providing them with recommendations for alternatives and highlighting issues with Axon, and organized a public comment campaign against the item.

Despite the limited forewarning, the vote October 20 saw around 25 community members come to give public comment. In the over 60 minutes of concern and opposition, community members were clear with their statements against the brutalization of immigrants, the surveillance of their community, and their distrust in the commission.

Riley Ophus, a Montana State University student, stated, “This company is actively involved in escalating mass surveillance, and also enabling ICE's abuse of immigrants. Over the summer, Axon sold $220 million worth of tasers to ICE, following a multi-million dollar investment in the company by Donald Trump. No company which sells tasers to ICE, or accepts major investments from Donald Trump, should receive even a dime of Bozeman's money.”

Natsuki Nakamura said, “We've been told that BPD [Bozeman Police Department] will not use facial recognition and automatic license plate readers because 'Montana law generally prohibits it.' While we know Montana law has exceptions for law enforcement to use it, we also know state laws can change, and we also know that Bozeman had fully intended to put up red light cameras until the state preempted cities from doing so.”

The commissioners provided lip service to the comments but unanimously voted the contract through anyway.

Resident Homa Masood responded, “There is nobody forcing you to take on this contract – you already made the decision, before you came here, that you were going to pass it. And if that's the case I don't know why we even bother with having public comment! You have people coming in and telling you that the Israeli military, police, navy, and prison services are deploying Axon manufactured tasers – and you're just shrugging and saying, 'Yeah, sorry, that sucks.'”

The commission's blatant disrespect for the public's opinions on the city's actions are not a deterrent. Public comment campaigns in Bozeman are far from over, because, even if Mayor Joey Morrison believes that “[this] isn't how things get done – you can't just cajole people into doing what you want,” the Bozeman community is losing trust in the commissioners' ability to meaningfully affect city processes in a way that benefits them. Bozemanites want a city commission that will fight for them – the hardworking people of Bozeman – and are prepared to continue the fight!

#BozemanMT #MT #InjusticeSystem #Police #Axon #Surveillance #ICE

Chicago, IL – On October 14, over 50 Chicagoans gathered at Casa Michoacan in the Pilsen neighborhood for a town hall meeting on the ongoing campaign to end collaborations between the Chicago Police Department and federal agents. This town hall, organized by the Immigrant Rights Working Committee of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (IRWC of CAARPR), served as both a celebration of the progress that has been made on the campaign and as an open discussion of how to move forward.

This town hall comes after a recent victory in the IRWC’s campaign. After a year of pressure and mobilization at the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability’s (CCPSA , the city’s police accountability board) monthly meetings, a resolution was passed by the commission to hold special quarterly hearings regarding how CPD implements and enforces the Welcoming City Ordinance. This win signifies a new phase in this campaign.

Louise Carhart opened up the discussion addressing the basis to the campaign, stating, “A lot of people were very upset because they had seen their communities torn apart by ICE in the preceding months, and had seen very little action on any CPD collaborations that had taken place.”

She continued, “The CCPSA would be where that accountability starts, given their position at the top of the accountability bureau in Chicago. After that, there wasn’t a lot of follow up from the CCPSA, despite repeated community outcry about this issue, despite increasing reports of CPD and ICE collaboration.”

Omar Flores, a leading member of the IRWC, and someone who has been on the ground to document police collaboration, talked about how CPD escalated confrontations between federal agents and community members.

Flores stated, “A lot of CPD’s justifications to how they respond to these situations and why they do ‘crowd control’ is because they say they’re there to calm the situation. But any of us who have been in the movement for any amount of time, or even just in communities that police tend to arrest, know that they are not de-escalators. They are escalators, that is their whole goal. To go in there and make the situation worse.”

A member of Pilsen Unidos por Nuestro Orgullo (PUNO) spoke up during the discussion, “We have seen in the last month or so instances where there have been known ICE vehicles in police-only areas. This is something that we also will have to go to the CCPSA and COPA [Civilian Office for Police Accountability] you know, to raise the alarm.” They referred to instances where ICE agents have used CPD parking lots as staging grounds for raids.

Investigations into these events are currently underway, and the struggle against police collaboration is growing across the city. It has become a major criteria to the selection of the next Chicago Police Department superintendent. The campaign is far from over, and the IRWC is ready to mobilize for meetings and to the streets.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CPD #OppressedNationalities

Portland, OR – On the evening of October 19, 150 people attended an immigrant rights-centered town hall meeting with Portland City Council candidates. Candidates running for city council in Districts 3 and 4 were invited to participate and present their position on questions of immigration, the police, sanctuary policy, and the Macadam ICE facility in South Portland.

The candidates in attendance included incumbents Mitch Green, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, and new candidates such as Dr. Esther Leon, Tom Sollitt, Jamey Evanstar, Eli Arnold and Jeremy Beausoleil Smith.

Immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones hosted the event. In the opening statement, Taylor Goss, a member of PDXCD stated, “This town hall is so important because it affords us the opportunity to elect councilors who are willing to be bold, and fight with us to defeat Trump’s attacks. We need action now to shut down the facility and stop the terrorizing of immigrants in Portland!”

PDXCD is in the midst of a campaign to shut down the Portland ICE facility that operates under a permit approved by Portland City Council in 2011. They’ve held many actions demanding city council take action to shut down the facility and had sparred with some of the incumbents at the town hall in the past.

The demand to shut down the facility resonated with many in attendance, receiving applause and cheers.

When asked about the mayor’s response to the ICE surge, candidate Jeremy Smith scrutinized the lack of action from Mayor Keith Wilson on shutting down the facility. Another question asked about the city council’s response to ICE, to which some non-incumbents replied that council should have done more. Dr. Esther León echoed the demand to revoke the ICE facility permit, stating that the city should have already shut it down. León added that the current council’s capitulation to Trump does not keep Portland safe from his attacks, but in fact, lays the groundwork for further federal overreach.

One line of questioning asked about existing law and if city council has the obligation and responsibility to change it if it is no longer working. Candidate Tom Sollitt responded, “if the [laws/code] made sense in the past, but we see in the moment when things don’t work out, there is an obligation to make change. The lack of desire to enforce the facility impact fee and action from the mayor and executive branch, city council should continue moving forward with proposals even if it includes a proposal to revoke [the ICE facility’s] permit.”

Moderators also inquired about the ways councilors can fight for immigrant rights outside public office, and the police’s role in ICE activity as well as their activity against immigrant rights protesters.

Cami Saunders asked a question about the use of police to forcefully remove protesters from city hall, saying “Members of our organization have been violently removed from city hall by the Portland police when no one was being harmed. Do you condemn that use of the Portland police?” Mitch Green, a sitting councilor during many forceful removals of protesters, stated that the police should not be used to “remove the people from the people’s house,” and subsequently condemned the use of the police in that manner. The rest of the candidates, including other incumbents who allowed the police to eject protesters, unanimously aligned with Green and condemned it.

“I’m confused by Mitch Green’s response,” Saunders said after the event. “He condemned the use of police to kick out protesters from city hall, yet he was a part of the group of councilors that allowed police to be called on us for protesting last year. We need more than statements, and I hope to see this reflected in his actions if he is re-elected.”

When asked how she felt about the responses at the town hall, Beatriz Ibarra said, “Some of the excuses that were given about the lack of action on the facility have been said before, such as issues with the mayor, the supremacy clause, as well as the lengthy legal process. These came mainly from the incumbent candidates. It was refreshing to see other candidates take the stand for revoking the permit and show willingness to fight back against Trump's attacks in a bold manner.” Ibarra was one of the many people that have been arrested for protesting outside the ICE facility.

In closing out the event, PDXCD urged the attendees to support them in their next action for the revocation of the Macadam ICE facility permit. A hearing on the ICE facility land use violation case is scheduled for November 20. The violation was issued in September of 2025 and has been stalled and appealed every step of the way. Activists demand the judge overseeing the case, Judge Steffan Alexander, stop allowing landowner Stuart Lindquist to delay consequences for human suffering at the facility he leases to ICE.

On the topic of the outcome of the event, Stephanie Wilde, one of the main organizers, said, “one of my highlights of the evening had to have been the groups that came out. It gave me such a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness. I spoke with a lot of the groups on just how coming together like this strengthens all of us and strengthens our resolve to keep going.”

The event was supported and endorsed from Sunrise Movement PDX, Centennial Education Association, Oregon Working Families Party, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Knitters Against Fascism, Multnomah Democrats, SW Indivisible Resistance, Portland For Palestine, Shannon Singleton for Multnomah County, Parkrose UCC and Singing Resistance.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #PDXCD #ICEDetentionCenter

Tacoma, WA – For over seven months, Felix Vladimir Ponce Alvarez has been detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). Felix has lived in Seattle since 2002, where he started his business and raised his family. Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA) is demanding his immediate release from the Northwest Detention Center and calling for an end to the horrific conditions that he is facing during his detention.

As part of the process to gain his citizenship, Felix was obligated by ICE and the DHS to check in with officials monthly. He was fulfilling these legal obligations when he was detained without any clear reason on February 24, 2026. These circumstances leading up to his wrongful detention are not unlike many of the stories behind the status of detained people, where the established legal process for citizenship is instead used as a means for ICE agents to intercept immigrants in order to fill their detention quotas. In Felix’s case, he was already scheduled for another court check-in in March, when his legal process was interrupted without any valid cause.

In the last seven months, Felix has missed family birthdays and graduations. He also grieves the loss of his brother and the repossession of his home since he was unable to make payments on his mortgage while in detention. Felix's family has joined PCIA in protests and in reaching out to Washington state representatives directly to demand his freedom.

During his detention at the NWDC, Felix has been subjected to dire conditions. Inside, people are regularly denied access to medical care and they receive low-quality food that has been reported to have bugs in it. They also receive meals hours late and are given access to water that is cloudy and often has bugs in it.

Felix has not just been fighting for his release, but he has also often spoken out against mistreatment from guards and has frequently supported other people in his unit in detention by translating for the other Spanish speakers. When people speak out against the conditions they are facing, they are often met with repression. That can look like receiving frequent bed checks, getting written up by guards, or even being sent to solitary confinement.

This repression does not stop people from fighting back or speaking out. One of the ways that people protest their conditions at the NWDC is through hunger strikes. As of August, of this year, there have been 20 hunger strikes at the Northwest Detention Center to demand better conditions.

When describing the immigration system, Felix stated, “It is one of the largest human trafficking operations in human history, but it's considered legal.” ICE has ramped up its operations in Pierce County and all across the country, and in turn, so has the NWDC. Transports have significantly increased over the past couple of months. It is estimated that over 500 people have been transported in a single day. The NWDC is also seeking to expand its operations by changing its bed capacity from 1575 to 1635 people. This is despite the city of Tacoma’s current zoning laws, which prohibit its expansion.

“Felix should have never been detained. He shouldn’t have to spend another day in detention facing conditions where he has to fight every day for his basic rights and the rights of others. He should be at home with his family. He should be out here with his community,” stated Sumeet Kaur, a member of the Pierce County Immigration Alliance. “We will not stop fighting until Felix is free. We will not stop fighting until every single person in this detention center is free and it is shut down! We will not stop fighting until there is legalization for all and an end to immigration terror!”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #FelixAlvarez

Albert Lea, MN – Fourteen months. That is how long Eliud Jahdiel de la Luz Baéz, a 23-year-old Minnesotan, has been unjustly detained by ICE. On October 18, dozens of protesters organized a noise demonstration outside of the Freeborn County Detention Center to lift the spirits of the detained immigrants and demand the release of Eliud and the tens of thousands of other immigrant detainees from across the United States.

Organizers from the Minnesota Immigrants Movement (MIM) and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) condemned the targeted violence from ICE and the Trump administration against immigrants and community members. During the demonstration, Eliud’s mother shared her nightmarish experiences over the last 14 months, stating, “All I want is Eliud’s freedom.”

Over the phone, Eliud also reflected on his own experiences in ICE detainment. Coming to the U.S. as a baby, his life here is all that he knows. Despite having current legal status under Deferred Action, ICE wrongfully arrested Eliud with no due process and has kept him in detention for over a year and counting. Eliud’s story is not unique. In Minnesota alone, there are nearly four thousand immigrants currently in ICE detention.

MIRAC member Aizar Cabrera emphasized, “We are here to represent hundreds of thousands of people who cannot speak. Today, we advocate for those who have been terrorized by violence, for those who are humiliated by segregation, for those who still fear tomorrow. Know this, you are not alone!”

MIRAC continues to demand that Governor Tim Walz sign an executive order to declare Minnesota as a sanctuary state. If you are interested in our full demands and would like to sign our petition to urge Walz to listen to the will of his constituents, please visit: miracmn.com/current-campaigns.

#AlbertLeaMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIM #MIRAC #Eliud #TimWalz

Tacoma, WA – On Wednesday, October 14, around 40 people gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in support of immigrants in detention. Community members rallied for Kuya Desmon, whose final hearing was scheduled for later in the day. “Kuya” is a title of affectionate esteem used in the Philippines. Members of SEIU 6 also came out strong in support of two janitors who were detained on October 3.

“Immigrants rights are workers rights,” said Ceci Hooks, executive board member and security officer of SEIU 6. “When immigrants, workers and janitors and security officers and airport workers are under attack, we all suffer.”

The crowd chanted “Free them all!” and “You are not alone!” while banging on drums in between speeches.

Hooks continued, “The labor movement can hold ICE accountable for the abuse, violation of civil rights, physical violence inflicted on our communities across the country, violation of our due processes, and inhumane conditions they have created at these concentration camps.”

The first speaker of the event was Reverend Alex Booker of Queen Anne Baptist Church, who closed his speech with a prayer before the crowd began chanting again.

“I'm out here to stand in solidarity with those who are facing horrible immigration terror from the Trump administration,” said Christian Tuller, member of SEIU 775.

The recent apprehensions by ICE are part of a reported push from the White House for ICE to arrest at least 2000 people per day. This quota has resulted in an increase of detentions occurring at the NWDC since the summer of 2026.

One of the speakers at the event was Liliana Chumpitasi, a union member of SEIU. Chumpitasi delivered her speech in Spanish, with an interpreter there to translate to English.

“These workers are immigrants who have come to contribute to this country and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else,” said Chumpitasi. “This is affecting the country’s working class, and when these injustices occur, it’s definitely not just the union that needs to step up—everyone needs to show solidarity with them and work to shut down this detention center.”

Voices continued to ring through the streets as attendees chanted, “The people united will never be defeated!” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” The attendees heard more speeches from groups such as Capybara Collectiva and Tanggol Migrante Movement, who uplifted the stories of Kuya Desmon and Kuya Nestor, who were both kidnapped by ICE in June.

“We're not scared. We're out here fighting and we're going to keep fighting,” said Ari Peel, member of Teamsters 174. “Many of these people who are detained are in unions, and if not in unions, they are almost all workers. This is absolutely a labor fight. We should all show out in solidarity, because our fights are so much stronger when we're together.

“The labor movement has a decisive role in this fight. We need to work together with all the people who are oppressed in this country in order to kind of get what we deserve,” said Tuller.

As the rally wound down, many stayed and waited to hear the results of Desmon’s final hearing. Chants continued, and despite the grim setting, spirits were high. The solidarity between various unions and community activists was strong.

When asked about the future of the movement and Trump’s reign of immigration terror, Naj Ali of SEIU 6 said: “Every kingdom will fall. And every evil will see justice. Whatever corruption and oppression there's been, there will be a day where every soul will come forth and be served what they served to the earth.”

“There are so many people who are starting to understand why they suffer, and are no longer willing to accept it,” said Tuller. “The people are ready.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Philippines #SEIU #Labor

Portland, OR – On Tuesday, October 13, organizers with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) rallied to oppose the recent surge of ICE detentions in the Portland area and demand justice for Oscar Bergal, shot by ICE in New York just days prior.

Bergal is one of 39 or more people shot by immigration agents during the second Trump administration, including Portlanders Luis David Nino-Moncado and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who Customs and Border Patrol targeted and shot in January of 2026.

Just this week, between October 6 and 10, 48 ICE detainments in Oregon were reported to a hotline, meaning the actual number of detainments is much higher. This is more than double the average number of detentions per week in the prior months.

This comes after a DHS announcement of a surge of ICE activity in sanctuary cities like Portland.

PDXCD speaker Cass Cano spoke at the anti-ICE rally: “Immigration status should not be a death sentence. Our people are under attack, and we will not back down. We have to stand up to Trump and keep fighting ICE until we have won legalization for all, an end to the deportations, and ICE out of everywhere.”

Protesters chanted “ICE out of Portland!” “Killer ICE off our streets!” and “Revoke the permit!” to demand that local officials take action to shut down the detention facility in Portland, which is a key instrument of ICE’s operations in the area.

Despite the growing support for the campaign to revoke the permit, Portland city councilors and some “progressive” forces argue that the facility, leased to ICE by wealthy landowner Stuart Lindquist, should remain open so when immigrants are detained for processing, lawyers can get in contact before they are moved to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

However, a recent congressional oversight visit to the Portland ICE facility revealed immigration agents are no longer using the facility for processing. Instead, they are deploying all agents to the field to grab people off the streets and sending them straight to the Northwest Detention Center by “processing” detainees in the field.

These findings, along with the recent upsurge in abductions, negate the crumbling assertion that the Portland detention camp benefits immigrants by providing detainees an opportunity for legal intervention prior to transfer – a long-empty argument that city officials continue to hide behind.

Cami Saunders of PDXCD noted the contradiction in the “progressive” rhetoric against revoking the permit, stating, “We don’t want or need a concentration camp in Portland, and it’s time for our elected officials to stop pretending like we do. What we actually need is for our legislators to stop siding with Trump and protecting ICE.”

The embattled ICE facility heads back to court November 20, as landlord Stuart Lindquist challenges a land use violation for holding detainees over a 12-hour limit in court. PDXCD is calling on Judge Steffan Alexander to strike down the case.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Feature

Atlanta, GA – On October 7, Georgia Tech Students for a Democratic Society led a march to demand Flock technology be removed from campus. About 40 students, holding signs against mass surveillance, gathered on Tech Green and marched to each gunshot detector and automated license plate reader camera on campus.

Speakers discussed Flock’s specific connections to Georgia Tech and the harms of mass surveillance in the U.S. as well as in Palestine. Chants at the march included “From Palestine to USA, mass surveillance go away!” and “What do we want? Flock off campus! When do we want it? Now!”

“The CEO and founders of Flock, Garrett Langley, Matt Feury and Paige Todd, are alumni, and the headquarters are right here in Atlanta. We were the first university in the state to use Flock’s drone first responders,” explained Andrew Sarphie, a member of SDS. “We don’t know who can access the data they collect. Over 4000 agencies in Atlanta were able to conduct millions of searches from these cameras last year alone, and Flock can share that data with agencies around the country.”

Sarphie continued, “We know this technology has aided ICE kidnappings and is being abused by police officers to stalk and harass community members. We want Flock, and any other AI surveillance, off Georgia Tech’s campus for good.”

The speaker from the student group Jackets for Palestine stated, “Israel has subjected Palestinians to relentless surveillance and inhuman study. Surveillance cameras turn the survival instincts of Palestinians under genocide into data points. The field is the horror of the genocide that Palestinians themselves live through. Their suffering becomes part of the process through which these technologies are developed and given market value. Once their algorithms are developed and their data is refined, they are then sold off to the highest bidder.”

She added, “Here in America we cannot look at all the advancements of this technology with naivety. Because before that technology reached us, it was tested and its producers have always known exactly what it was capable of.”

At the end of the march, YDSA called for students to attend Georgia Tech PD’s “Ask the Chief” event to increase the pressure on Georgia Tech to protect students’ privacy rights.

Georgia Tech students are not satisfied with the campus police’s vague promise that this technology increases safety on campus. SDS will continue to demand Flock’s removal until every camera is gone.

#AtlantaGA #GA #StudentMovement #FlockCameras #ICE #Surveillance #GeorgiaTech

Denver, CO – In the afternoon on October 6, more than 30 people, led by Denver Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the protest band Notes of Dissent, rallied and picketed outside the Tivoli Student Union building on Auraria Campus.

After over a year of campaigning for a sanctuary campus and a ban on ICE on campus, the Auraria Board of Directors still refuses to listen to the student body’s concerns about immigrant student safety if ICE were to come onto Auraria campus. While the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board initially collaborated with Denver SDS on drafting a popular policy, Policy 7.7, to ban ICE from Auraria, they backpedaled and decided to no longer support the modified Policy 7.7, which would have banned ICE from being anywhere on campus.

“Thus far, the Auraria administration has taken the cowardly approach,” said Meadow Dunne, a faculty member of the Community College of Denver (CCD) located on the Auraria campus. “They refuse to stand up for what is right. I am calling for the administration to immediately pass and enforce an anti-ICE policy here on campus. None of us deserve to live in fear.”

Despite the board of directors’ and the student advisory committee’s resistance to protections for the student body, Denver SDS is not backing down. On September 16, they marched inside the Tivoli Student Union building up to the Auraria Higher Education Center offices and chanted outside their door for almost an hour before being forced to leave by the Auraria Campus Police Department.

Two weeks later, on September 29, Denver SDS hung banners on the Tivoli’s third floor safety railings displaying a “Wanted” list of faces for Auraria administrators.

And a week later, SDS was joined by Notes of Dissent, a protest marching band, which played songs while the crowd chanted, “Say it once, say it twice! We do not fuck with ICE!” and “We want justice, you say how? ICE out of Denver now!”

“Denver SDS has been working hard on this campaign for over a year, and we still haven’t gotten our demands met!” stated Mel Medina, a member of Denver SDS. “They keep on trying to ignore us, but we keep on getting louder, bolder. The students are the backbone of this campus, and, if it weren’t for us, [administration] wouldn’t be here. So today we are going to make them hear us, whether they like it or not!”

On-campus support for Denver SDS’ campaign to ban ICE on Auraria is growing with each protest.

#DenverCO #CO #Auraria #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #ICE #SanctuaryCampus

Minneapolis, MN – On October 5, over 100 immigrant rights activists lined Lake Street in Minneapolis with signs demanding “ICE out!” and “Sanctuary state now!” Protesters chanted in support of immigrant rights as they lined a predominantly immigrant-owned business corridor of the city.

The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and Asamblea de los Derechos Civiles called the rally in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s message on X stating that “ICE has initiated a nationwide public safety surge in sanctuary cities where our brave officers will be targeting criminal illegal aliens.”

The protest was met with supportive honks by passing cars and community members and families coming out of local businesses to join in on chants of “Aquí estamos! Y no nos vamos!”

Organizers condemned ICE violence and sent a message to the Trump administration that Minnesotans will always be ready to protect their immigrant neighbors and fight back against ICE. Speakers demanded immediate action from state leaders to protect Minnesota immigrants after the announcement of this looming surge.

A member of Asamblea de los Derechos Civiles responded to the looming attacks from DHS by calling on Minnesotans to stand up for immigrant rights. He said, “As people here in Minnesota and everyway here in the United States, we have to fight for the liberty of all!”

The Minnesota legislature failed to pass the North STAR Act in 2024, before Trump took office, and again (as the STAR Act) in 2025, after watching Minnesotans suffer the terror of the Metro Surge invasion. During Metro Surge, Governor Tim Walz did nothing to protect or support immigrants. These failures and inaction keep harming Minnesota immigrants. The only thing that became clear after Metro Surge is that state leaders will do nothing without immense pressure.

MIRAC has continued to pressure Governor Walz to take executive action and ensure that Minnesota is prepared for another onslaught of federal terror. Protesters called for to Walz issue a sanctuary state executive order that would ban 287(g) agreements and any type of collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE, keep ICE out of sensitive locations and off state property, outlaw secret police, and more.

Montana Hirsch, of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, said, “The path forward is clear: we need a sanctuary state for immigrants in Minnesota. Rather than allow DHS to use threats on sanctuary cities as a source of fear, we must fight harder than ever to adopt life-saving legislation to keep ICE out of Minnesota. We must make it clear today and always that Minnesotans will not back down from a fight.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIRAC #TimWalz

Tacoma, WA – More than 250 community members attended a seven-hour protest on Sunday, October 4, on the east side of Tacoma, where heightened ICE presence has terrorized the immigrant community. Organizations including the Puyallup Tribe, the Brown Berets, and Pierce County Immigration Alliance came to support members of the community who had called for a vocal presence rejecting immigration terror and defending the neighborhood from surging ICE patrols.

Many recent abductions have taken place on 72nd street, a major Tacoma arterial lined by taquerias, panaderias and street vendors. In the last week, marked ICE vehicles also started cruising through a shopping plaza parking lot and harassing the workers inside.

Public calls for a demonstration were met by the community, with organizers arriving on the scene as early as 7 a.m. to prepare. Within an hour, a crowd of nearly 100 had formed to wave signs, chant, and put a stop to ICE terror against the community. “My people don’t deserve to live in fear,” said one protester, Gabby Bernal-Amaral, about why she had decided to join the event.

“I have the privilege to speak up for my community,” shared Leanna Esquivel, another attendee. “I want to see a complete overhaul of all the systems that harm the human race. Oppressive systems, racism, xenophobia, have no place here!”

As attendees chanted rounds of “Chinga la migra” and “No están solos,” reports rolled in that several known ICE vehicles were headed towards the plaza. The community sprang into action. As ICE came into sight, the rallygoers blocked the road into the strip mall and yelled for ICE out. Surrounded by the people and outnumbered 40 to 1, one ICE van was forced to reverse back into the street, and two unmarked ICE cars were similarly identified and forced out. Two repeat attempts by ICE to come into the plaza were similarly pushed back, with undaunted protesters chasing down and surrounding the ICE vehicles until they retreated.

The rally continued into the afternoon, with music, food, and an outpouring of community support. Tamales, coffee, pizzas and pastries were brought in by neighbors and the workers of businesses surrounding the rally. The crowd remained steady at roughly 100 attendees throughout the event, with new people consistently arriving to support as others left for work, church, or to take care of children – and passing off their signs to the folks joining in. Over 500 commuters joined the demonstration, honking horns, hanging out of car windows and sunroofs, and raising fists in support of “ICE out!”

“The rally today was a big step in our community’s fight against immigration terror,” said Edgar Alvarez, an organizer with Pierce County Immigration Alliance. “We’ve been canvassing this area and our allies have been patrolling here for months because we know this is a hotspot for ICE’s terrorism, and today the community put their foot down and declared they’ve had enough of the state’s unwarranted violence.”

And this mobilization was just the beginning. Community members are planning to demonstrate again and continue the fight to push ICE out of Tacoma.

“Through actions like this, the community is rapidly learning to fight back,” Edgar continued. “I’m confident that the activists and community members involved will capitalize on this moment. We keep us safe from the thugs that have been plaguing our streets.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Portland, OR – On the evening of Friday, September 25, immigrant rights activists gathered outside Gateway Discovery Park to demand killer ICE off our streets and justice for victims of ICE. This rally was in response to Legalization for All's national call to action for the recent ICE shooting of Wilber Garces Perez in Austin, Texas.

Portland Contra las Deportaciones (PDXCD) organized the rally, and members of the immigrant rights organization held signs honoring lives lost by ICE. Local community members joined the mobilization and shared their anger with ICE terror. The demands “Killer ICE off our streets” and “Justice for Wilber” were echoed by those present.

PDXCD members gave short statements on how the recent uptick in ICE shootings informs their organizing. “We must keep demanding that Portland city government take action to shut down the Portland ICE facility before another life is lost,” said Beatriz Ibarra, referring to PDXCD’s campaign to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility.

Portland also experienced an ICE shooting in January 2026, when two Venezuelan asylum seekers were shot at near 148th and Burnside. Like Garces Perz in Texas, the victim of the Portland shooting, Luis Niño-Moncada, was charged with assault. That case is ongoing, as the defense attorney for the victims say agents attempted to tamper with evidence.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #WilberPerez #ICE #PDXCD