Protect Immigrants in Your Community: Join #HereToStay Network & #RaidWatch via @UNITEDWEDREAM & @AmericasVoice

Trump’s executive orders at the end of January had an immediate and traumatic impact on the immigration community. Under the guise of protecting America from “acts of terror or criminal conduct” by undocumented immigrants, the ramped up ICE raids and deportations have targeted DREAMers, as well as those protected under DACA - a law Trump wants to get rid of, of course. According to the organization Free Press, in just the first week of February, immigration officers arrested 680 people.

Living under constant threat of an immigration raid is a nightmare for undocumented individuals who are at risk of arrest and separation from their families via deportation. There are many ways to stand up for and protect the undocumented people in your community, but here are three actions you can take that will help you stay informed when someone needs help, easily report ICE activity in your community, and encourage your local officials to support undocumented immigrants:

#1: Sign up with #HereToStay Network to get notified if an immigrant in your community needs help

The immigrant youth-led organization United We Dream has launched the #HereToStay Network. By signing up, you pledge your commitment to defending undocumented people in your community and will get notified when they need your help.

#2: Report ICE activity in your community via social media with #RaidWatch

The organization America’s Voice is encouraging people to record video and take pictures of raids or ICE activity in their communities and post them to social media using the hashtag #RaidWatch. This not only helps alert activists and immigration lawyers to the raids, but provides warning to other undocumented immigrants in your community and publicly highlights the injustice of Trump’s executive orders. Learn more.

#3: Tell your Mayor to declare your city a “sanctuary of safety” for undocumented immigrants

United We Dream has also launched WeAreHeretoStay.org, a website with resources for immigrants, as well as a campaign to encourage US Mayors to declare their cities “sanctuaries of safety” for immigrants, Muslims, black people, and members of the LGBTQ community. In a sanctuary city, officials implement policies to restrict local police from turning immigrants over to federal immigration agents and declare in no uncertain terms that immigrants are welcome. Call, write, tweet at and show up at the office of your city’s mayor to demand they protect those under attack by Trump.

Resources for Immigrants

And finally, it is critically important for those under threat to know their rights and resources. If you are an immigrant, go to the "Resources” tab at WeAreHeretoStay.org to read your rights and tips on what to do if ICE comes to your door. You can also download deportation defense cards in more than 10 languages that include those rights and tips and the United We Dream hotline to report the incident. That hotline number is 1-844-363-1423.

Additionally, the organization Latino Rebels has created a valuable resource for undocumented immigrants called the MigraMap. The MigraMap is the first map pin pointing ICE raids and activity across the US. To view the map and/or submit a raid, go to migramap.latinorebels.com.

We want to ask that you help us in our work to amplify the most effective activism. If you have come across an action or a new organization that is doing great work getting people engaged to resist the Trump agenda, please share it with us by emailing [email protected].

So, if standing up for immigrant human rights is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Protecting Immigrants in Your Community by Joining #HereToStay Network & #RaidWatch via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

It’s been said a million times, but it can’t be said enough: no human being is illegal. Period.

🚨 WE HAVE TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS! 🚨

RT these images—people need them more than ever!#HereToStay #Not1More pic.twitter.com/NjdOu7Y0s2
— United We Dream (@UNITEDWEDREAM) February 10, 2017