Community Vigilance Against ICE Raids

In a proactive effort to defend immigrant rights, advocates are equipping volunteers with whistles to alert communities during ICE raids. Recent incidents in New York City have prompted a surge in vigilance among residents, emphasizing the importance of awareness and action.

Credit:Gwynne Hogan/THE CITY

Earlier this month, a group of masked federal officers conducted random arrests of Latino men on a street corner in Corona, Queens. Local volunteers quickly sprang into action, using Signal chats and direct messages to inform others and gather at the scene.

By the time they arrived, the federal agents had departed with the detained individuals. Undeterred, the volunteers disseminated whistles and know-your-rights materials, alerting the community of the recent street raid.

Their efforts proved crucial as the officers returned to the area two more times that same afternoon. This time, residents began warning each other with the whistles, a testament to the successful organization among community members, as recounted by a volunteer from Queens Neighborhoods United, one of several grassroots organizations monitoring ICE activities in recent months.

Despite the escalation of ICE activity within the city, recent operations have not reached the violent extremes seen in cities like Chicago, where agents have resorted to using tear gas and physically entering private residences. However, New Yorkers are taking inspiration from activists in Chicago, distributing thousands of whistles in recent weeks to create a straightforward method for alerting neighbors about ICE presence.

“It could be as simple as honking a noisemaker,” said Whitney Hu, an organizer and community activist with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid, who facilitated the distribution of hundreds of whistles after learning of the initiative in Chicago. “It’s challenging for them to quietly intimidate when there are 20 citizens following them, armed with fog horns, which is technically permissible.”

In Sunset Park, where Hu is actively involved, different community groups use various messaging platforms: younger activists rely on Signal, while the Chinese community primarily uses WeChat, and Latino immigrants largely favor WhatsApp. Yet, one tool is universally understood— the whistle.

The signaling code is straightforward: brief bursts indicate an ICE sighting, while long whistles signify arrests in progress. “If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, you should hide,” advised Hu. “If you’re not, head to the street.” Many New Yorkers have joined the movement, distributing whistles to bolster community awareness.

“After the Canal Street raid, I ordered a thousand whistles,” said Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, deputy director of the Street Vendor Project. The initiative aims to empower street vendors with whistles and provide them with essential know-your-rights information, along with guidance on differentiating federal immigration agents from local police or sanitation officers.

‘Resistance Energy’

On a recent Saturday, numerous community groups gave away an additional 10,000 whistles as part of an action day organized by Hands Off NYC. This coalition brings together various unions, community organizations, religious institutions, and political factions, mobilizing for coordinated activities throughout the city.

Inspired by the efforts in Chicago, where residents began utilizing whistles to alert neighbors during last month’s Operation Midway Blitz, similar tactics are being adopted in cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles. The loud sounds act as warnings for those at risk of arrest in proximity to ICE officers.

In response to the use of whistles, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that their personnel are “highly trained.” She added that they have demonstrated “professionalism” when faced with protests and loud disruptions.

To date, most ICE operations in New York City under President Donald Trump have occurred in government buildings, such as 26 Federal Plaza, where immigrants attend mandated appointments or hearings. However, advocates are bracing for a shift in strategy as the administration intensifies its activities, indicating potential confrontations with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

The recent military-style raid on Canal Street revealed the potential challenges New Yorkers may face in the near future. Yet, activists like Hu draw encouragement from the swift mobilization of residents who stood up to federal agents.

One striking image that has gained traction features a woman in a polka-dotted dress defiantly confronting agents from inside an armored truck, a powerful symbol of the growing anti-ICE movement in the city. The New York Immigration Coalition is even auctioning off the dress she wore to inspire further activism.

“It’s that rebellious spirit, that energy of resistance,” reflected Hu. “That’s the kind of energy we need to channel.”