As immigration enforcement intensifies, grassroots movements across the U.S. are mobilizing to protect undocumented residents, employing diverse strategies to counteract the actions of ICE.
In an era marked by heightened immigration enforcement, a robust counter-movement is emerging across American neighborhoods. What began as isolated acts of support has transformed into a sophisticated, nationwide strategy of community resistance. Local networks are rapidly deploying specialized and adaptable tactics to shield undocumented residents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The growth and strategies of this movement were highlighted during a recent American Community Media (ACoM) news briefing held on January 23.
The push for organized resistance coincides with escalating risks associated with ICE encounters, which are permeating residential areas and creating a profound “chilling effect” on public life. Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, emphasized that the implications of these operations extend far beyond the undocumented population.
“The attacks on immigrants are the tip of the spear on attacks on all Americans,” Cárdenas warned. “This mass deportation agenda is affecting everyone, non-citizens and citizens alike.”
Rather than relying on a centralized command, community organizers have developed a decentralized framework. This approach allows neighborhoods to select specific interventions—ranging from legal monitoring to physical sanctuary—that best suit their local context.
In Chicago, the primary focus has been on rapid legal empowerment, according to Siri Lee, Deputy Organizing Director at ONE North Side. She explained that the goal is to ensure that “everyone seems to know their rights and not to open their door (and) ask for a warrant.”
In Minnesota, the strategy emphasizes physical protection for the most vulnerable populations. Amanda Otero, Co-Executive Director of Take Action Minnesota, described their “Sanctuary School” initiative, which involves active patrolling to ensure that “ICE stays away from our schools and ensuring that kids can come in and out of the building safely.”
The movement also aims to expose the aggressive nature of federal tactics. Ann Garcia, a staff attorney at the National Immigration Project, spoke candidly about systemic issues within enforcement agencies, stating, “The soul of DHS is rotten to its core.”
Garcia recounted a distressing incident where a community observer was shackled and had her wedding ring cut off simply for inquiring whether agents were affiliated with ICE. This documented pattern of behavior has galvanized legal professionals to expand their efforts beyond traditional litigation.
Providing historical context, Harvard Law School professor Mark Tushnet compared today’s resistance to the era of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, when public outcries over “renditions” galvanized the North. He suggested that the law often follows the lead of organized people. “Don’t count on the courts,” Tushnet advised, “but go to the streets and the courts will follow.”
The ultimate aim of this resistance is to reverse the “chilling effect” that prevents families from accessing schools and hospitals. Organizers argue that by providing structured, collective defense, they can help residents reclaim their public lives.
The urgency of the moment is inspiring unprecedented levels of engagement. As Otero noted, “I have never seen this many people get off the sidelines and take action and be in community doing organizing to keep us safe.”
As the landscape of immigration policy continues to evolve, these grassroots networks remain the primary line of defense. By treating community solidarity as a series of adaptable tactics, activists are ensuring that resistance can spread faster than the enforcement actions themselves, according to American Community Media.