what to do if ICE agents come to your workplace

With aggressive ICE raids expanding to an increasing number of cities, I’m sharing the following guidance from a community organizer in Chicago about what to do if ICE shows up at your workplace.

I’m in Chicago, which has been targeted aggressively by ICE and Border Patrol for the last two months. ICE actions are expanding into many other cities, and I wanted to share some resources and tips from our city’s experiences with your readers.

Inc. has a solid article on the rights of business owners when ICE shows up. It’s important to know what your rights are, especially about private areas and documentation. However, ICE frequently and blatantly disregards legal limitations, and when confronted with armed, masked strangers, it may be difficult for individuals to physically intervene to stop them from going into off-limits areas. Owners and managers should provide information to employees about their rights, as immigrants and as citizens. Be prepared to document ICE when they’re at your business; you may need evidence of their actions if they violate your rights or abduct any workers. (The latter is critical to help families find out what happened if someone is taken.)

As an employee, you may be more limited, especially if management isn’t supportive. Many places, especially large corporations, are adopting a neutral position towards ICE’s activities, which effectively means letting them operate unchecked. Employees can leave Know Your Rights (KYR) info in staff areas for people to take. Try to get in touch with your local ICE Watch or immigrant rights groups as well. Many of them are sending out alerts when ICE is active in a particular area, so you can be aware if they’re near your place of business.

Some other, more hands-on tips:

• Landscapers, construction workers, and other contractors are extremely vulnerable. Despite claims that they’re arresting “the worst criminals,” ICE literally drives around and abducts brown people working outdoors. If your business employs any of these services, work with them to develop a safety plan if ICE shows up. For example, letting them come inside and go into an employee-only space until it’s all clear.
• Share information and resources, but do not make risk assessments for other people. Don’t tell Latino coworkers to work from home because it’s safer for them, for instance. Instead, if you’re in a position to do so, allow for more flexible WFH as a choice for anyone who might need it.
• If you’re a manager, try to offer compassion and flexibility. Vulnerable employees are going to be extremely stressed with the constant, unpredictable fear of friends, family, or even themselves being abducted. You may also have employees who are volunteering with ICE Watch organizations, which can be emotionally and mentally draining as well.
• In Chicago, raids have been extremely unpredictable day-to-day. We don’t know when or where they’re going to hit. You unfortunately have to assume that ICE could show up at any time. This is why it’s critical to have plans and education as soon as possible.
• Do NOT post about what you’re doing on social media or non-secure servers — which often includes workplace communications. Use a secure app like Signal or have conversations in person. This goes double if you record a raid. Don’t post it online, save it for the lawyers and immigration advocates.

Above all else, the best thing that you can do in your community is to connect with local ICE Watch and immigrant rights orgs. They have information, resources, and contacts that will help you and your neighbors. Get info, coordinate with your coworkers, and build a community to protect each other.

The post what to do if ICE agents come to your workplace appeared first on Ask a Manager.

View the full article