The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in New York is mobilizing more than 4,000 anti-ICE activists to form so-called “rapid response” battalions to thwart federal immigration enforcement during an expected crackdown on illegal immigrants, according to a report.
According to a report by The New York Post, the plans were outlined at a recent meeting of the DSA’s Immigrant Justice Task Force held at the People’s Forum in Midtown Manhattan.
“As we’ve seen in other cities, we’re still expecting a big wave of federal immigration enforcement,”
– Marina, head of the DSA, told the participants according to news reports.
She added that the group wants to be “on our front foot if and when it does.”
4000 activists
The NYC DSA chapter plans to train 2,000 DSA members and 2,000 non-members while activating 50 additional trainers, the release said. It is also expanding the staffing of its ICE hotline to operate around the clock.
“If you speak Pular, if you speak Creole, if you speak Fulani – come find us,” the leader urged the participants, according to a news report.
Fundraising at meetings
Although organizers did not disclose the cost of the surgery, appeals for donations were prominent during the nearly two-hour meeting.
One leader reportedly walked past a red beanie to collect the cash, which the Post described as a “socialist version of a collection plate”.
Anger fueled by the Minneapolis shooting
Participants were motivated by the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month.
“ICE is a violent organization and has been encouraged,” the DSA leader said, according to the report.
Good was part of an anti-ICE group trained to “resist” immigration crackdowns — a tactic the NYC chapter now hopes to emulate.
ICE expansion and federal pressure
ICE has more than doubled its staff over the past year and is gearing up for large-scale operations in major cities, including New York and California, according to a report citing WIRED.
A recent nationwide ICE operation arrested undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes such as aggravated rape, aggravated sexual assault of a child and strangulation, according to the agency.