Tips for Confronting ICE

From a former Ashevillian now living in Chicago.

Here is a list of helpful actions.

Always Carry a Whistle — It’s a quick and easy way to alert others to the presence of ICE. Quick blasts let people know agents are nearby. Long blasts let people know they are detaining someone. These are best in dense areas like downtown or West Asheville.

Here in Chicago many businesses had whistles for free for customers and mini zines were distributed that gave instructions. They can also be easily 3D printed! If you own a shop or restaurant in town, put out a bowl of whistles with instructions for customers to pass along!

Document, Document, Document — Take photos and videos of any confirmed ICE agents and their vehicles. They tend to use rented SUVs and mini vans. They always have their faces covered. They WILL chase you down if you follow them. They WILL threaten you and try to intimidate you.

Be Detailed When Sharing Sightings & Interactions — Try to be as detailed as possible when sharing about ICE sightings and interactions. And try not to spread information that isn’t confirmed or substantiated. The early days of ICE in Chicago were filled with lots of false alarms. We all learned how to discern what was true and what was rumor.

Focus on details when sharing or passing along information — what car(s) they’re driving, what they’re wearing, license plate numbers, how many are there, what direction did they come from, and what direction are they going. These details are helpful.

Get Off Facebook and Onto Signal — Meta folded to the DOJ and CBP when they complained about Facebook groups sharing real-time ICE locations. Signal is a private encrypted platform. There are now numerous networks of folks doing sighting reports, photos, and details on their movements. It’s typically neighborhood-based. We highly recommend being part of these types of channels. Get Signal at signal.org/download.

They Are Cowards, Losers, and Shameful Men — They will pull women out of cars and daycare centers, they will detain elected officials, they will pull a gun on you, they will shoot you with pepper spray and rubber bullets, they will tear parents away from children. There’s nothing noble, honorable, or ethical about what they do.

Show ICE no kindness. Do not welcome them. Make them feel like the social pariahs that they are.

Report any suspicious activity to the CIMA Community Hotline at 1-888-839-2839. 

Notice to the entire community. Elected officials from the City of Asheville have informed us that ICE is in Asheville. We ask that you remain calm, take precautions, and report any suspicious activity to the CIMA Community Hotline at 1-888-839-2839. Our partners are ready to assist with food, transportation, detaining a loved one, Know Your Rights information, or any other need.

Aviso a toda la comunidad. Oficiales electos de la ciudad de Asheville nos comunicaron que ice en Asheville. Les pedimos mantener la calma, tomar sus precauciones y reportar cualquier actividad sospechosa a la linea comunitaria de cima, 1-888-839-2839. Nuestros aliados estan listos para asistir en comida, transporte, detencion de un ser querido, informacion de conoce tus derechos o cualquier otra necesidad.