Deportation efforts are increasing nationwide as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on immigration, but the Los Angeles-based group is doing its own patrol to look at the community.
A handful of volunteers patrolled across South Los Angeles on Wednesday to search for immigration officers. Volunteers, made up of activists organized by the Community Self-Defense Coalition, say their mission is to warn the public of the existence of US immigration and customs enforcement agents and notify residents of their rights.
“We are trying to make sure our families don’t get confused and separated today,” said Lupe Carrasco, a member of the group.
One of the Trump administration’s priorities includes the deportation of undocumented immigrants. The president has stopped supporting legal representatives in the immigration court for children, posting what he described as “ASMR” of deportation footage, and has ended the CBP One app.
The White House’s strict stance on immigration has prompted some Southern California school districts to ensure their students are safe.
“Children are afraid of going to school because they fear their parents will be deported,” said John Parker, part of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice.
When a group of volunteers scopes an ice agent, they look for a colored SUV without a license plate or exemption plate. When they believe they have found an immigration agent, patrol members live stream their locations. Additionally, they will hand out the residents cards that remind them of their rights.
“We’re not blocking it. They have the rights and remind people that they should protect them,” Carrasco said.
The group added that it hopes to exercise its First Amendment rights and that public attention will block agents.
NBC4 reached out to the ice to comment on the patrol, but did not respond.
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