Monitoring ICE Agents in North Carolina
A variety of groups—including one from North Carolina, which previously benefitted from federal funds—are keeping an eye on neighborhoods and sharing the precise locations of ICE agents via social media as a way to interfere with immigration enforcement.
In Asheville, North Carolina, a group known as the Mountain Immigrant Comrade (CIMA) is particularly active. They not only monitor ICE officers but also disseminate videos and photos capturing their activities.
CIMA describes itself as “dedicated to supporting and defending the immigrant community.” Their mission emphasizes building community strength and solidarity, focusing on providing immigrants with essential resources and legal assistance while standing against unjust deportations.
The organization is noted for its proactive stance and offers a platform for recruiting volunteers to track ICE agents and alert the community accordingly.
Recently, CIMA has been involved in “training” local businesses in Asheville, collaborating with other leftist organizations to shield immigrant workers from what they deem “unconstitutional ICE operations.”
During the COVID crisis in April 2020, CIMA received more than $30,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, which appears to have helped them before the funds were to be repaid as loans to navigate the national shutdown.
CIMA represents just one of several nonprofits dedicated to protecting undocumented immigrants, including individuals with serious criminal records such as murderers and traffickers.
This small nonprofit, along with its activist base, aims to raise awareness about ICE activities, functioning both locally and nationally to disrupt federal enforcement efforts, often putting ICE agents in precarious situations.
For instance, the group began organizing shortly after the Trump administration took office and has since seen similar efforts emerge in cities like Boston, where activists monitor and report the actions of ICE agents.
By May, a network of activists quickly mobilized in the Boston area, coordinating efforts to alert one another about ICE operations, making it difficult for agents to conduct arrests.
Chicago has witnessed a similar upheaval, with activists aggressively challenging legal enforcement actions to obscure ICE operations.
Recently, even some members of Congress have jumped into the fray. Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed support for publicly naming ICE officials, potentially endangering their safety by exposing their identities.
Tom Homan, a former official who worked under Trump, expressed outrage at these lawmakers, arguing that such actions could jeopardize the lives of federal agents.
Homan highlighted that many representatives routinely criticize ICE and border patrols, arguing that this fosters a dangerous atmosphere. He warned that this kind of hostility could lead to tragic incidents involving ICE agents.
He also asserted, “Under President Trump, ICE and the Border Patrol took significant actions that led to a safer border. There has been a considerable decrease in fentanyl trafficking, saving countless lives from overdoses, and significant reductions in sex trafficking of vulnerable individuals.”
