Exclusive | NYC socialists mustering army of 4,000 anti-ICE activists to bring Minnesota tactics to Big Apple
New York City socialists are gearing up to mobilize over 4,000 anti-ICE activists to form “rapid response” battalions in anticipation of an imminent crackdown on illegal migrants in the city. The plan was outlined at a meeting of the Immigrant Justice Working Group, held in the offices of the People’s Forum in Midtown, a space adorned with images of communist icons like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
The DSA, a socialist organization, is training 2,000 of its members and 2,000 non-members, as well as activating 50 additional trainers to prepare for the expected federal immigration enforcement wave. The group is also increasing staffing for its ICE hotline to operate 24/7.
The cost of these preparations was not disclosed, but the member-funded organization made several requests for donations during the meeting. The majority of the attendees, mostly young white socialists, were first-timers inspired by the recent death of Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother who was shot by an ICE agent during a confrontation.
The NYC DSA plans to adopt combative tactics used in Minnesota, where Good was part of an anti-ICE group trained to resist immigration crackdowns. The group aims to show up in large numbers to confirm ICE sightings and swarm immigration agents to deter detentions.
The anti-ICE strategy involves the use of rape whistles to alert the community of ICE’s presence. The DSA has been canvassing immigrant neighborhoods in search of new recruits and has set up a Signal chat for members to join the “rapid response” team.
ICE has increased its presence in cities nationwide, targeting migrants convicted of crimes or living in the US without legal status. A recent ICE operation resulted in the arrest of criminal illegal migrants convicted of serious crimes like rape and sexual assault.
The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to open a new ICE detention facility in Chester, upstate New York, to hold 1,500 illegal migrants. This facility, along with the existing center in Newark, is expected to accommodate a surge in ICE enforcement in the New York City area.
The NYC DSA is mobilizing its members to resist ICE operations and protect immigrant communities in the face of increased federal immigration enforcement. The group’s efforts reflect a growing movement of grassroots activism against harsh immigration policies.
