Objectives

Arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are up 30% since President Trump took office. And in some parts of the country, such as the New York City metropolitan area, arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions is up 225%.

Further, as the Trump Administration advances its so called "zero tolerance" immigration policy, the rhetoric about immigrants as dangerous and an undue burden to the country has only increased.

To address these incomplete and racist narratives about immigrants, and to support communities under real, increased surveillance and threat from ICE and Border Patrol, WITNESS developed the Eyes on ICE initiative. Comprised of case studies, how-to videos, tip sheets and shareable and adaptable resources, Eyes On ICE offers guidance on how to film encounters with ICE and other enforcement agencies safely, ethically and effectively to immigrants and advocates as well as considerations for journalists about how to report on these encounters.

Video has already successfully thwarted abusive practices by ICE, stopped or delayed deportation proceedings for immigrants who were arrested due to racial profiling, and created groundswells of support for families who are on the receiving end of these shameful practices by our government.

The Eyes on ICE resources (available in multiple languages) and trainings across the country are ultimately a part of a larger effort to support the voices of immigrants, amplify more complete narratives about their experiences and push for a humane immigration policy.

Strategy and Execution

This project offers practical resources for immigrant communities and advocates for how to safely, ethically and effectively film immigration abuses by ICE and Border Patrol agents for evidentiary and advocacy purposes and others through tip sheets, case studies, videos, in-person trainings and more.

In the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump, WITNESS and allies in the immigrant rights space anticipated an emboldening of enforcement agencies that make up the Department of Homeland Security. And as one of our partners, the Immigrant Defense Project said, "ICE feels unshackled right now." We heeded the call for practical resources and guidance for how to use video in order to document abuses committed ICE, Border Patrol and other agents, to fight individual deportations, and advocate for immigrant rights.

We have done this through several ways:

1. Developed in-person trainings with grassroots groups and allies to train on the basics of filming, preservation of footage, considerations about when to share footage online and when to safeguard it and share with a trusted ally or lawyer, and more.
2. Developed resources such as tip sheets and video how-to primers on "Filming ICE", "Checklist for Sharing Videos of Encounters with ICE" and "Documenting ICE Arrests Outside Courthouses" These resources are available in English, Spanish and some are also available in Haitian Creole, Arabic and other languages. Creating shareable resources that can be distributed online or by allies at other gatherings, community centers, and protests helps us reach more people than we ever could with in-person trainings. We also share resources such as the #WeHaveRights series of animated videos (created by Brooklyn Defender Services, the ACLU and MediaTank Productions) that aim to educate immigrants about their rights as well as safe, practical steps that they can take to defend themselves during encounters with ICE.
3. Case studies: We've produced deeper looks (in both written and video versions) for how different types of video - from a family member or eyewitness filming an ICE arrest to surveillance footage - can be used to stopped or delayed deportation proceedings for immigrants who were arrested due to racial profiling, and create groundswells of support for families who are on the receiving end of these shameful practices by our government.

Partnering with a network of immigrant-led and immigrant rights focused organizations throughout the U.S. has enabled us to be sure we are creating resources that are needed and are useful to the people they are intended to help. Distribution efforts have been mostly through the trainings described above, through social media, as well as through other offline opportunities like events and via community centers and the offices of our partners. We have also partnered with mainstream media outlets like New York Magazine and The Marshall Project to help share our tips through articles and a video read and watched widely online.

Results

Through our resources, tip sheets, and video tutorials, we are helping educate people about their rights when it comes to documenting ICE and Border Patrol abuses. We have successfully held several trainings across the country from L.A. to Texas to NYC, and our resources, which are available in several languages, are helping immigrant communities and allies everyday to stand up for justice. Mainstream media have helped amplify our guidance as seen in this feature by New York Magazine.

Ultimately, we aim to support immigrants to use video to create more complete narratives about themselves and to push for a more humane immigration policy that respects the dignity of every individual.

Media