Educate yourself on how to be an effective bystander observer
This is a crucial first step for any work you plan to do.
Read TIPS below.
View, print, memorize and share this Bystander and Observer Flyer
Enter the WAISN Deportation Defense Hotline 844-724-3737 into your phone’s contacts. Make a note to text this number; no calls.
TIPS for when you suspect ICE activity
Thank you everyone for caring about your neighbors and for looking out for them. The conversations happening about how we stand together in community during these times are really heartening. You probably know that ICE has been active in Whatcom Co. recently. Here are some do’s & don’ts for when you SEE something. Please make the time to read all the way through.
PLEASE be cautious when deciding what to do with suspected immigration activity — our immigrant organizations and the reporting organizations recommend the following when you see or hear of a suspected ICE sighting:
DO:
- Text WAISN (Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network) hotline, (844) 724-3737 as soon as possible. (tip – add this number to your phone contacts) Please do not call; they can triage incoming reports faster via texts.
• Give them a description of the scene, what you’re seeing.
• Location: specific address or cross streets or a business name if possible.
• Identify who you are seeing, and what the action is.
• If you have video or photographic info, you can text that to the same number. • •
• Photographs of license plates are particularly important for Community Member and ICE vehicles.
• If the vehicles or people have any identifying markings or distinctive clothing, leave that info as well.
• If you see someone actually being detained, removed, or put in another vehicle, be sure to mention that. - After you report the activity, a rapid response team is sent out to verify what is happening. This happens fast — there is a team of people in Whatcom Co. ready to respond. One or more people will respond by going to the location to verify the report. If the people/vehicles are gone, they talk to folks, and document if anything happened.
After there are confirmed sightings, teams usually drive around the area for a period of time to be onsite for additional reports.
Reporting to WAISN or to someone you know who is involved in rapid response really is the best way to help. - Record the incident if you’re comfortable and able to do so. This is done for several reasons — to help families identify & locate detainees; provide video evidence for legal action; confirm or verify reported sightings while keeping vulnerable community members safer; and provide visible resistance to illegal acts.
It is legal in WA to record local or federal enforcement activity in public places, as long as you don’t impede their work. It’s your right to observe and document. You need to be the judge of whether it’s safe for you to record or not – just because it’s legal to do doesn’t mean it’s always safe to do. Text your video footage to WAISN as a follow up to your report, if you already called it in.
How to record:
• Stay at least an arms length away from the officer(s)
• If they tell you to back up, record yourself and narrate doing so
• Record horizontally
• Provide photos or video of vehicles and license plates
• Narrate what you’re seeing in as much detail as possible
• Focus your recording on the officer’s actions
• Do not share footage publicly without explicit permission of the person being detained or their family
DO NOT – *** This comes directly from immigrant organizations, so please respect their wishes *** - DO NOT POST SUSPECTED SIGHTINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Until they are confirmed, all that reports like this do is ramp up fear and anxiety among the whole community, but especially among vulnerable community members (who are already plenty concerned.) They don’t need additional fear, or worry about missing work/school/doctor’s appointments because of suspected sightings. This applies to immigrants regardless of their immigration status — the anxiety level is off the charts. Let’s not make it worse.
- DO NOT POST PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA that include anything identifiable (targeted people or their vehicles). Once activity is confirmed, it’s okay to post photos or videos that focus on agents and their activity, just don’t include targeted individuals or anything personally identifiable in the photo/video (including their car) without their or their family’s affirmative consent. There are several reasons, but one is that they can become a target, even if they weren’t before. And believe it or not, there are bad actors out there who go out and break into or steal vehicles when reports are posted online.
Other important information:
Know your legal rights to observe and document ICE (or any law enforcement) activity in public. Know your rights (KYR) cards are free on WAISN’s website. Print or order several and have them handy to give to people who might need them.
You may have read that whistles are becoming a tool to notify a community of ICE activity. They are particularly useful in neighborhoods or dense areas. There are
If you spot ice driving or lurking – blow in short blasts “pre—pre—pre—pre”
If you see ICE abducting someone, blow continuously “preeeeeeeee-preeeeeeeee”
If you are interested in learning more about joining Rapid Response Whatcom, please email WAISN_Whatcom@proton.me
Thank you all for caring for your neighbors. Together we can (and are) making a difference.
Indivisible Bellingham 