With radios and megaphones, volunteers patrol LA streets to warn communities of ICE activity

Carrasco and Gochez, both educators in the L.A. area and activists with Unión del Barrio, are part of a volunteer network of residents patrolling the streets of Southern California – from South Central to the Eastside. Their mission is simple yet critical: to warn communities of any potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, offering a line of defense for families at risk of deportation. They’re out in the streets to remind their neighbors they have their back as President Donald Trump has pledged to deport “millions and millions” of immigrants.

These patrols are happening amid news that a “large scale” immigration enforcement action was coming to L.A. before the end of February. The Los Angeles Times cited leaked government documents showing that the ICE operation would focus on people who are not legally authorized to be in the country.
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Volunteers are trained to identify undercover vehicles used by ICE, which are typically Ford Explorers, Dodge Durangos, and Chevy Impalas, according to the organization. When they spot signs of ICE during their watch, they alert residents – typically through a megaphone.
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At a recent patrol in San Diego’s City Heights, volunteers tailed a blue Ford Explorer that they linked to ICE, along with two other vehicles in the residential neighborhood. Then through a megaphone, a woman volunteer shouted: “Comunidad, estamos declarando que esta ICE. Aquí hay presencia de ICE!” (“Community, we’re declaring that ICE is here!”)

Unión del Barrio is an independent political organization operating with a volunteer membership base and entirely self-financed through membership dues, community contributions, and local fundraising. We have dedicated ourselves to struggle on behalf of “la raza” living within the current borders of the United States.
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Since 1981 Unión del Barrio has led struggles to resist migra and police violence; defend the rights of workers, prisoners, mujeres, and youth; and even launched numerous independent electoral campaigns. Within the current borders of the U.S., Unión del Barrio has the goal of building a peoples organization capable of defending the democratic rights and class interests of la raza. We also support the struggles for freedom of all our sisters and brothers across Latin America which we call “Nuestra América.” We unconditionally uphold the right of self-determination of indigenous people, and of all poor and oppressed people throughout the world.