How L.A. Volunteers Can Safely Document ICE Raids Without Arrest

(LOS ANGELES) Volunteers who record ICE raids face higher arrest risk in 2025, especially in neighborhoods near federal staging points. The recent detention of Amanda Trebach, a volunteer with Unión del Barrio, after an operation on Terminal Island shows how quickly a calm observation can become a criminal case if agents believe someone interfered. At the same time, ICE raids in Los Angeles continue at scale, with monthly operations that include people with criminal convictions and others accused of immigration violations.

This guide sets out a full, step-by-step process to document ICE activity safely, with clear expectations at each stage and practical steps you can take to reduce risk while supporting your community.

Safety-First Overview of the Journey

• Stage 1: Prepare before you step out
• Stage 2: Arrive and observe without interfering
• Stage 3: Handle agent contact calmly and lawfully
• Stage 4: Secure footage and report concerns
• Stage 5: Debrief with your team and plan the next shift

Each stage explains what you should do, what you can expect from authorities during ICE raids, and how to keep your focus on clear documentation rather than confrontation.

Stage 1: Prepare Before You Step Out

Start with training and a plan. Working alone increases risk and confusion.

• Connect with trained networks. Coordinate with Unión del Barrio, CHIRLA, Harbor Area Peace Patrol, or Órale. These groups run trainings and rapid response systems and help if a volunteer is stopped or detained. Contact points include:
  • Unión del Barrio: message via Instagram direct message
  • CHIRLA Rapid Response Network: online volunteer form; email Ingrid Olvera at [email protected]
  • Órale Rapid Response Network: online volunteer form
• Know your rights and limits. You may record public officials in public spaces, but that does not allow interference. Keep a short rights card in your pocket with reminders: you can record; you should not trespass; you should not block agents or vehicles.
• Build a rapid response plan. Share your location with a trusted contact, agree on check-in times, and keep emergency legal phone numbers with you. Have a plan for who to call if you’re detained.
• Use the right tools. Charge your phone, bring a power bank, and set your camera to record at the highest quality your device allows. Enable cloud backup or live stream to a trusted team channel so footage remains safe even if your device is taken.
• Dress and label for safety. Wear neutral clothing, closed-toe shoes, and a visible observer badge from your organization if provided. Avoid anything that could be seen as armor or a weapon.

What to expect from authorities at this stage: usually nothing yet. You’re still off-site. The preparation you do now will shape your safety for the rest of the day.

Stage 2: Arrive and Observe Without Interfering

When you reach the area of an operation, your job is to watch, record, and stay out of the way.

• Keep your distance. Stay observational, not confrontational. Record from sidewalks and other public spaces. Do not enter private property without permission.
• Avoid blocking movement. Do not step in front of agents or vehicles; authorities may treat that as obstruction.
• Film clearly from afar. Use zoom instead of moving closer. A tripod or phone grip helps reduce shaky footage.
• Work as a team. Assign roles if you have enough people: a lead recorder, a note-taker, and a safety spotter who watches for traffic and shifting police lines.
• Stay calm. Do not shout, throw objects, or make sudden moves toward agents or vehicles. Avoid verbal confrontations. Your goal is documentation, not debate.

What to expect from authorities at this stage: federal agents often move quickly. They may set up near staging sites such as ports, industrial zones, or—recently—on Terminal Island. ICE and, in some cases, Border Patrol may both be present. Local police may control traffic or stand by, and cooperation between local arrests and ICE detentions has been documented. Tension can rise fast when protests form.

Stage 3: Handle Agent Contact Calmly and Lawfully

Agents may ask you to move, question you, or attempt to push observers farther back.

• Keep recording from a safe, public place. State calmly that you’re recording from a public area and will not interfere.
• Follow lawful orders about distance. If told to move for safety, step back while continuing to record.
• Don’t touch vehicles or equipment. Physical contact or blocking can lead to arrest.
• If questioned, keep answers short. Give your name if required by local law. Ask if you’re free to leave. If not, ask for a lawyer.
• Stay silent about immigration status. You’re not required to discuss your status to record public activity.
• Call your rapid response contact if agents detain you. Your team can alert attorneys and your organization.

What to expect from authorities at this stage: if agents believe you interfered, they may detain you. In early August 2025, DHS accused Amanda Trebach of jumping in front of vehicles and physically impeding agents during an operation on Terminal Island. That allegation led to her arrest. Volunteers should treat that case as a warning: stay visible but keep space between you and the action.

Stage 4: Secure Footage and Report Concerns

When the operation ends or you step away, safeguard what you recorded and complete your reporting tasks.

• Back up right away. Save video and photos to a secure cloud or hard drive.
• Label files clearly. Note date, time, location, and which agency you saw on the scene. These details help advocates and attorneys later.
• Share with your network. Send materials to your organization’s designated channel so they can review for legal follow-up or community alerts.
• Report possible misconduct. If you witnessed serious harm or possible rights violations, discuss with your group how to file with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The complaint page is here: https://www.dhs.gov/crcl/filing-a-complaint
• Protect privacy. Blur faces and plates when sharing publicly if your organization’s policy calls for it.

What to expect from authorities at this stage: usually nothing immediate. Officials may issue public statements later about arrest numbers or targets. Your organization may prepare a response, especially if protests grew during the operation.

Stage 5: Debrief and Plan the Next Shift

After each outing, take time to learn and reset.

• Debrief as a team. What worked? What felt unsafe? Update your plan.
• Reach out if you were detained or warned. Your group may connect you with legal support or training refreshers.
• Rest and rotate. Long nights or early mornings can wear you down and increase errors the next day.

Working With Los Angeles Rapid Response Networks

Partnering with trained groups is one of the best ways to reduce risk:

• Unión del Barrio: message via Instagram direct message for volunteer interest and training schedules.
• CHIRLA Rapid Response Network: sign up through the online form; contact Ingrid Olvera at [email protected] for intake and training.
• Órale Rapid Response Network: complete the online volunteer form to join patrols and documentation teams.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, volunteers are safest when they coordinate with established networks, record from public areas, and avoid any action that looks like interference—advice that matches what Los Angeles advocacy groups teach.

Context Shaping 2025 Operations in Los Angeles

This year’s enforcement climate increases both the need for documentation and the risk to volunteers:

• ICE’s Los Angeles field office has intensified operations in 2025, arresting more than 200 people in targeted actions, including individuals with criminal records and others accused of immigration violations.
• Raids often trigger protests and tense standoffs, making scenes more volatile for residents and observers.
• City leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, have publicly opposed these raids, yet federal enforcement continues.
• Local and federal interactions matter. Cooperation between local arrests and ICE detentions has been documented, which can blur lines for community members when police and federal agents are present together.

In this environment, the line between lawful observation and alleged interference is where volunteers must take special care.

Common Pitfalls That Raise Risk

• Stepping into the path of agents or vehicles
• Trespassing on private property
• Shouting or provoking arguments with agents
• Acting alone without a rapid response plan
• Failing to share your location and check in with a team

Documentation Tactics That Help Without Interfering

• Frame wide shots from a distance that show the overall scene.
• Use zoom for close details rather than moving closer.
• Speak quietly into the mic to note time, location, and agency names.
• Keep filming during movements but let your spotter guide you to safe positions.

What This Means for Families, Employers, and Neighbors

• Families may see early-morning activity that looks confusing or frightening. Observers who follow the steps above can create a record without adding risk.
• Employers who see enforcement near workplaces should avoid blocking agents. Neutral video from public sidewalks may help clarify events later.
• Neighbors who witness a raid can call a rapid response network rather than approaching agents themselves.

Final Safety Priorities to Remember

• Record from public spaces.
• Do not interfere—no blocking, no touching, no chasing vehicles.
• Stay calm, step back when told, and keep filming.
• Work with trained groups like Unión del Barrio, CHIRLA, and Órale.
• Have a rapid response plan and legal contacts ready.

Volunteers help their communities by creating a clear, lawful record of what happens during ICE raids in the United States 🇺🇸. In 2025 Los Angeles, that work is possible—and safer—when people follow nonviolent observation, avoid physical contact, and rely on established networks that provide training, legal support, and rapid response.