Check out our tip sheet on safely, ethically and effectively filming immigration enforcement abuses in the U.S.

Image: Immigration Customs Enforcement team 

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How to Document ICE

Overview

From 13-year-old Fatima Avelica-Gonzalez filming her father as he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents on her cell phone amidst her sobs, to the desperation, confusion, and fear heard in the recording of 10 Central American children separated from their families at the US-Mexican border, documentation has a crucial role in exposing immigration abuses and advocating for rights. 

This project offers a deep dive into how to safely, ethically and effectively film abuses against immigrants from ICE agents, Border Patrol, and others through in person trainings, tip sheets, case studies, videos, and more.

Together we will expose ICE and Border Patrol, demand justice, share our truths, and remind the perpetrators: the world is watching.

No bans. No walls. No deportations.

Featured Cases

Visit our Resource Library to see related tip sheets and guides. Select materials available in:

Arabic | French | Haitian Creole | Spanish | Urdu

WITNESS is honoured to have received the inaugural Peabody Award for Global Impact, and we share this recognition with the many partners, supporters, and frontline witnesses who believe in the power of video and tech to defend human rights

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RESOURCES

FILMING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

FILMING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

TIP SHEET
Filming encounters with Immigration Enforcement can expose human rights abuses, deter violence, substantiate reports and serve as evidence. But if the footage isn’t captured safely and ethically, it can put people at risk.
WHAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE REPORTING ON BORDER COMMUNITIES

WHAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE REPORTING ON BORDER COMMUNITIES

RESOURCE
A resource for any journalist or person hoping to write, report or learn more about US border communities.
EYES ON ICE WEBINAR SERIES

EYES ON ICE WEBINAR SERIES

WEBINARS
Watch our 2-part #EyesOnICE webinar series, co-hosted with the Immigrant Defense Project, for practical tips on filming immigration officials and strategies for community response.
USING FACEBOOK IN AN ERA OF MASS DEPORTATION

USING FACEBOOK IN AN ERA OF MASS DEPORTATION

BLOG POST
For many across the country, learning about the Cambridge Analytica scandal was the first time they became aware of how their data and security are often compromised by the social media platforms we engage with every day. 
HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM LAW ENFORCEMENT?

BLOG POST
Wiretapping laws are intended to protect people’s privacy, but sometimes they’re used to challenge the #RightToRecord law enforcement.
SHARING VIDEOS OF ENCOUNTERS WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

SHARING VIDEOS OF ENCOUNTERS WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

CHECKLIST
This checklist will guide you through a series of important questions to consider before publicly sharing videos of encounters with Immigration Enforcement in the United States.
REAL OR RUMOR: HOW TO VERIFY ONLINE REPORTS OF ICE RAIDS

REAL OR RUMOR: HOW TO VERIFY ONLINE REPORTS OF ICE RAIDS

RESOURCE
Misinformation about ICE Raids heightens fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities. Use this resource we created with United We Dream to help verify online posts of raids before you press share.
STORYTELLING STRATEGIES FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

STORYTELLING STRATEGIES FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

RESOURCE
This series of case studies highlights videos that illustrate responsible, community-centered, and effective storytelling for immigrants rights. 
EYES ON COURTS: DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

EYES ON COURTS: DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

RESOURCE
WITNESS, Immigrant Defense Project, and New York Civil Liberties Union created this resource to inform people that they have the right to film and document ICE targeting and arresting immigrants at courthouses.
Q&A: LEGAL ISSUES AND SECURITY CONCERNS WHEN FILMING ICE

Q&A: LEGAL ISSUES AND SECURITY CONCERNS WHEN FILMING ICE

BLOG POST
This blog post goes into detail on security questions and legal issues that we weren’t fully able to respond to during our 2-part #EyesOnICE webinar series.
FILMING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

FILMING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

ANIMATED VIDEO
Filming encounters with Immigration Enforcement can expose human rights abuses, deter violence, substantiate reports and serve as evidence. 
ORGANIZATIONAL DIGITAL SECURITY GUIDE FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE

ORGANIZATIONAL DIGITAL SECURITY GUIDE FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE

RESOURCE
An extensive guide for anyone hoping to implement safe and effective digital security policies and practices in their organizations. 
ONLINE MANIPULATION OF VISUAL CONTENT FOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROPAGANDA

ONLINE MANIPULATION OF VISUAL CONTENT FOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROPAGANDA

REPORT
This project analyzes how political content, specifically images, gets re-contextualized and leveraged as anti-immigrant propaganda on social media.
USING YOUR #RIGHTTORECORD IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

USING YOUR #RIGHTTORECORD IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

GRAPHIC
WITNESS teamed up with Make the Road New York to create an easy to share graphic on how to safely film an immigration enforcement.
VIDEO AS EVIDENCE GUIDE: U.S. IMMIGRATION

VIDEO AS EVIDENCE GUIDE: U.S. IMMIGRATION

RESOURCE
This in-depth guide is for immigration attorneys and community members looking to utilize eyewitness video as evidence in legal cases. Inside you’ll find in-depth research and examples, practical tips and guidance, case studies and exercises.
DOCUMENTING ICE AT HOME

DOCUMENTING ICE AT HOME

TIP SHEET
WITNESS teamed up with United We Dream to create a tipsheet on how to document ICE if they show up at your door.
WE HAVE RIGHTS WHEN DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

WE HAVE RIGHTS WHEN DOCUMENTING ICE ARRESTS

VIDEO
Watch the video here.

Check out other videos from the We Have Rights animated series.

DOCUMENTING ICE WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE

DOCUMENTING ICE WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE

VIDEO
WITNESS sat down with New York Magazine to talk about why video is important in the fight for immigrant rights, and share tips and tactics to film safely and effectively

STORIES

ROMULO’S STORY: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

ROMULO’S STORY: USING VIDEO TO ADVOCATE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

CASE STUDY
This post examines the role video played in advocating for uniting Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez with his family, and fighting against his deportation from L.A.
EYES ON THE BORDER: KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE

EYES ON THE BORDER: KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE

BLOG POST
Cell phone videos and audio recordings are helping expose Border Patrol’s violent tactics as they continue to murder immigrants and separate young children from their families.
REPORTING ON IMMIGRATION: ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS IN CONVERSATION

REPORTING ON IMMIGRATION: ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS IN CONVERSATION

VIDEO
This panel conversation explores how journalists and advocates can work together to safely and ethically amplify immigrant voices.
JUAN'S STORY

JUAN'S STORY

CASE STUDY
Part 1: Using Video to Advocate Against Deportation 

 

Part 2: Using Video as Evidence in Immigration Court

EYES BEYOND THE BORDER: USING VIDEO TO DEFEND MIGRANT RIGHTS

EYES BEYOND THE BORDER: USING VIDEO TO DEFEND MIGRANT RIGHTS

BLOG POST
WITNESS’ U.S. Program team traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to train human rights defenders and attorneys to use video as evidence at the busiest port of entry in the world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT THE BORDER...AND BEYOND

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT THE BORDER...AND BEYOND

BLOG POST
Sending money isn’t the only way to help. See this list of ideas on how to support immigrants and challenge existing power structures.
BEHIND THE SCENES: VISIONS OF IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

BEHIND THE SCENES: VISIONS OF IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

BLOG POST
We partnered with the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network to produce two videos calling for #FreeThemAll and #NoBorderWall. Check out the videos and our get a behind the scenes look at our collaboration and production process.
EYES ON THE BORDER: TRAINING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO DOCUMENT ABUSES

EYES ON THE BORDER: TRAINING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO DOCUMENT ABUSES

BLOG POST
WITNESS worked in partnership with The Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network to conduct three trainings focused on using video to expose abuses by Border Patrol and advocate for immigrant rights.
EMMA ALANIZ: WORKING WITH REFUGEES AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER

EMMA ALANIZ: WORKING WITH REFUGEES AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER

VIDEO
Emma Alaniz, a volunteer at LUPE (lupenet.org) shares her story working with refugees in the US. Learn more about WITNESS’ works at the US/Mexico border.

Eyes on ICE in the news…

 

TRIGGER WARNING

This report contains depictions of war, abuse, examples of, or links to content that features, hate speech.

Trigger Warning
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