Eyes on ICE: Documenting Abuses against Immigrant Communities

Check out our tip sheet on safely, ethically and effectively filming immigration enforcement abuses in the U.S.

Image: Immigration Customs Enforcement team 

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Overview

From 13-year-old Fatima Avelica-Gonzalez filming her father as he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents on her cell phone amidst her sobs, to the desperation, confusion, and fear heard in the recording of 10 Central American children separated from their families at the US-Mexican border, documentation has a crucial role in exposing immigration abuses and advocating for rights. 

This project offers a deep dive into how to safely, ethically and effectively film immigration abuses by ICE agents, Border Patrol, and others through in person trainings, tipsheets, case studies, videos, and more.

Together we will expose ICE and Border Patrol, demand justice, share our truths, and remind the perpetrators: the world is watching.

No bans. No walls. No deportations.

Featured Cases

Select materials available in:

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    Resources & Stories

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT THE BORDER...AND BEYOND

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT THE BORDER...AND BEYOND

BLOG POST
Sending money isn’t the only way to help. See this list of ideas on how to support immigrants and challenge existing power structures.
EMMA ALANIZ: WORKING WITH REFUGEES AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER

EMMA ALANIZ: WORKING WITH REFUGEES AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER

VIDEO
Emma Alaniz, a volunteer at LUPE (lupenet.org) shares her story working with refugees in the US. Learn more about WITNESS’ works at the US/Mexico border.
ONLINE MANIPULATION OF VISUAL CONTENT FOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROPAGANDA

ONLINE MANIPULATION OF VISUAL CONTENT FOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROPAGANDA

REPORT
This project analyzes how political content, specifically images, gets re-contextualized and leveraged as anti-immigrant propaganda on social media.
SHARING VIDEOS OF ENCOUNTERS WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

SHARING VIDEOS OF ENCOUNTERS WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

CHECKLIST
This checklist will guide you through a series of important questions to consider before publicly sharing videos of encounters with Immigration Enforcement in the United States.
WITNESS JOINS #WEHAVERIGHTS CAMPAIGN

WITNESS JOINS #WEHAVERIGHTS CAMPAIGN

ANIMATED VIDEOS
WITNESS is proud to join a powerful coalition of community and media groups working to educate and mobilize communities at risk of abuse by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
EYES ON ICE WEBINAR SERIES

EYES ON ICE WEBINAR SERIES

WEBINARS
Watch our 2-part #EyesOnICE webinar series, co-hosted with the Immigrant Defense Project, for practical tips on filming immigration officials and strategies for community response.
JUAN'S STORY PART 1: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE AGAINST DEPORTATION

JUAN'S STORY PART 1: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE AGAINST DEPORTATION

CASE STUDY
This post examines the role of surveillance video in advocating for Juan Hernandez. 
FILMING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

FILMING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

TIP SHEET
Filming encounters with Immigration Enforcement can expose human rights abuses, deter violence, substantiate reports and serve as evidence. But if the footage isn’t captured safely and ethically, it can put people at risk.
EYES ON THE BORDER: KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE

EYES ON THE BORDER: KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE

BLOG POST
Cell phone videos and audio recordings are helping expose Border Patrol’s violent tactics as they continue to murder immigrants and separate young children from their families.
ORGANIZATIONAL DIGITAL SECURITY GUIDE FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE

ORGANIZATIONAL DIGITAL SECURITY GUIDE FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE

RESOURCE
An extensive guide for anyone hoping to implement safe and effective digital security policies and practices in their organizations. 
EYES ON THE BORDER TRAINING WITH NEW SANCTUARY COALITION

EYES ON THE BORDER TRAINING WITH NEW SANCTUARY COALITION

VIDEO
Watch our full training with New Sanctuary Coalition members on documenting ICE and Border Patrol 
EYES ON COURTS: DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

EYES ON COURTS: DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

RESOURCE
WITNESS, Immigrant Defense Project, and New York Civil Liberties Union created this resource to inform people that they have the right to film and document ICE targeting and arresting immigrants at courthouses.
REPORTING ON IMMIGRATION: ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS IN CONVERSATION

REPORTING ON IMMIGRATION: ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS IN CONVERSATION

VIDEO
This panel conversation explores how journalists and advocates can work together to safely and ethically amplify immigrant voices.
JUAN'S STORY PART 2: USING VIDEO AS EVIDENCE IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS

JUAN'S STORY PART 2: USING VIDEO AS EVIDENCE IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS

CASE STUDY
This post examines how Juan’s lawyers used surveillance video as evidence to successfully fight his deportation.
DOCUMENTING ICE WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE

DOCUMENTING ICE WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE

VIDEO
WITNESS sat down with New York Magazine to talk about why video is important in the fight for immigrant rights, and share tips and tactics to film safely and effectively
WHAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE REPORTING ON BORDER COMMUNITIES

WHAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE REPORTING ON BORDER COMMUNITIES

RESOURCE
A resource for any journalist or person hoping to write, report or learn more about US border communities.
EYES ON THE BORDER: TRAINING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO DOCUMENT ABUSES

EYES ON THE BORDER: TRAINING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO DOCUMENT ABUSES

BLOG POST
WITNESS worked in partnership with The Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network to conduct three trainings focused on using video to expose abuses by Border Patrol and advocate for immigrant rights.
FILMING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

FILMING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

ANIMATED VIDEO
Filming encounters with Immigration Enforcement can expose human rights abuses, deter violence, substantiate reports and serve as evidence. 
Q&A: LEGAL ISSUES AND SECURITY CONCERNS WHEN FILMING ICE

Q&A: LEGAL ISSUES AND SECURITY CONCERNS WHEN FILMING ICE

BLOG POST
This blog post goes into detail on security questions and legal issues that we weren’t fully able to respond to during our 2-part #EyesOnICE webinar series.
USING FACEBOOK IN AN ERA OF MASS DEPORTATION

USING FACEBOOK IN AN ERA OF MASS DEPORTATION

BLOG POST
For many across the country, learning about the Cambridge Analytica scandal was the first time they became aware of how their data and security are often compromised by the social media platforms we engage with every day. 
HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM LAW ENFORCEMENT?

BLOG POST
Wiretapping laws are intended to protect people’s privacy, but sometimes they’re used to challenge the #RightToRecord law enforcement.
ROMULO’S STORY: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

ROMULO’S STORY: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

CASE STUDY
This post examines the role video played in advocating for uniting Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez with his family, and fighting against his deportation from L.A.

Eyes on ICE in the news…

 

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