Original article in the Tri-City Herald

Republished in the Olympian

Republished in the Seattle Times

By Karlee Van De Venter and Rosemary Montalvo

February 6, 2025

Since Trump’s inauguration, rumors and fears have circulated about ICE presence and mass deportations. Posts are circulating across social media platforms, including Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, reporting ICE sightings.

But posting unconfirmed information can do more harm than good, as it can spread mass panic in already uncertain times. There are recommendations available for bystanders from many organizations, including the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), on what to say and do when you see immigration officials working in your local community. 

What if I see ICE?

If you see ICE activity in your area, be deliberate in your response. WAISN, the largest immigrant-led coalition in Washington state, has recommendations for bystanders who want to support their local immigrant community amid fears of mass deportation. 

When sharing information, WAISN says to carefully evaluate to be sure it’s more helpful than harmful. 

The CEO of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association (WAFLA), Enrique Gastelum, said something similar in an interview with McClatchy before the inauguration. WAFLA is a Washington-based nonprofit focused on fair labor practices in agriculture. While the threat of mass deportations impacts more than just farm workers, Washington state’s agricultural sector would suffer from such raids. 

“Some people are already going to have nervous or high-charged emotions,” Gastelum said. “I think sometimes people from the public that may not really understand immigration law or policies and stuff, can sometimes stoke those fears even more if they don’t really know what’s going on.”

“So I guess my message for the general public is: get informed. Do your research. Know what’s happening,” he continued. 

Spreading unconfirmed information regarding potential ICE activity can instill unnecessary fear in the local immigrant community. Government agencies are around throughout the year, so it’s important to differentiate standard activity from raids.

“Don’t be somebody that’s stoking unnecessary fear, because that can also lead people to do drastic things that may not be necessary, like go on the run or go into hiding, stuff like that...” Gastelum said. 

What are your rights if you see ICE? 

Everyone has basic guaranteed rights in the U.S., regardless of their legal status. With threats of mass deportation, households with immigrants are creating emergency deportation plans and preparing for the worst case scenarios. 

You have the right to record activity and interactions with immigration and law enforcement officers, so long as you do not impede them from doing their job. 

If you are asked to back up, WAISN suggests taking a step back and repeating “I am exercising my right to record and document.” If officers get too close to you, state that you have stepped back and repeat you are exercising your right to record. You want to remain calm, but speak firmly. 

Record the entirety of the incident, and narrate your experience. State the date and time while recording. 

If you’re going to post online, make sure your information is backed up with evidence. Speak with a first-person witness if you can. 

Take notes of what you see. How many officers are there? What are they wearing? What cars are involved, are they marked? What agency? Are people being questioned, or detained? If you feel safe, legally you can ask an officer why they are there. 

Additionally, be sure to take note of: 

• Officer identification - agency, badge, numbers, uniform, name The specific address, if possible 
• Language used by the officers, especially hate speech or identity speech and anything false or unproven 
• Cars - note the license plates and agency if marked
• Any physical force

Any post you make should include: 

• Date and time of reported activity 
• Street name or specific description of the area 
• Pictures or videos with timestamps 

Once you begin documenting activity, WAISN recommends disabling thumbprint or facial recognition protection on your phone. Using a passcode better protects your evidence and information. 

In Washington state, you can call the Deportation Defense Hotline at 1-844-724-3737 if you see potential ICE activity. 

What not to do around ICE

With all this information in mind, there are also actions you should not take as a bystander to ICE activity. 

Do not run to social media to post about potential sightings. This can cause panic in a time when accurate information is crucial. 

Do not spread information you cannot confirm. When you see other posts online, check for details. Is there a specific location, more than just a city? Is there a date and time? Does the post include photo or video of specific officers, or first-person witness information? If not, see if you can confirm more details on the report before sharing the post. 

Do not disclose anyone’s legal status, even if asked by ICE. You do not have to answer questions about others, you are only required to present your own paperwork when asked by an immigration officer. 

If asked about another person’s status, say “I don’t know” or “I can’t help.” You also have the legal right to say nothing. 

Washington state Deportation Defense Hotline 

Washington’s Deportation Defense Hotline is run by WAISN. The hotline takes reports from around the state about suspected ICE activity, then deploys Rapid Response Teams to evaluate the reality of the situation. The teams work to confirm sightings and validate activity, so WAISN can relay valid information and focus on supporting legitimate threats. 

“The hotline was created in 2017, WAISN was created in 2016 as the place for people to call to report ICE activity, raids, detention…” hotline manager Nedra Rivera said in a recent interview with McClatchy. “So it all starts with calling the hotline.” 

Its hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, but anyone who witnesses activity can still call during off hours. Leave a detailed message and WAISN will prioritize your report during active hours, according Rivera. 

Rivera told McClatchy about what you can expect when calling the hotline.

An operator taking your report will ask a series of questions. They’ll ask about your role, if you saw the activity firsthand or if you’re reporting something you saw online. It’s best if the original witness calls the hotline, so the operator can collect as much information as possible. 

The operator will also ask what agency was observed, what officers were wearing, and what vehicles were on side, according to Rivera. They’ll want to know how many people were detained, if any, and other details. Refer to the notes and videos you took during the encounter. 

“Once we take the report, we immediately activate our rapid response organizer,” Rivera said. “There are volunteer teams around the state, Rapid Response Teams, that are trained in rapid response to go to the scene, to activate in those cases, to serve primarily, to document, to verify, to share Know Your Rights information with community members, if they are being detained, to film if that’s possible in the situation, and to bring those reports back.” 

This information is used to process and confirm reports, then share the relevant details on social media. 

Families can also call the hotline for assistance locating their family members after detention, or help navigating next steps. 

ICE confirmed in Washington state 

Any confirmed activity will be shared on WAISN’s social media accounts. 

So far, the nonprofit has confirmed the following activity: 

• Fiesta Foods in Sunnyside - Two detentions - January 26, 2025
• Around E. 1st Ave. in Toppenish - No detentions - January 28, 2025 
• Around 3rd Ave. and Pike Street in Seattle - Multiple detentions - January 28, 2025 
• Near Evans Fruit Company in Tieton - No detentions - February 3, 2025 

WAISN will post further reports as information is confirmed. Some online maps have been created as well. 

Immigrants in Washington state and their support systems should have emergency plans in place and remain up-to-date on their rights and available resources.