Anti-ICE Activists Post Agents’ Information Amid Deportation Fears

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Activists in Los Angeles are posting the names, photos, and personal information of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as a way to warn neighborhoods about potential imminent raids. This comes as ICE is reportedly ramping up its deportation efforts across Southern California, raising concerns among local communities.

The flyers, which display images of ICE agents alongside accusations of ‘racially terrorizing’ neighborhoods, have appeared throughout the city. A source from ICE reported that the flyers state in Spanish, “CAREFUL WITH THESE FACES. They kidnap people from their homes and the streets, separating families and tearing apart communities. Many people have died while locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly condemned the actions of the activists, stating that these efforts jeopardize the safety of law enforcement personnel. A DHS spokesperson remarked, “These pathetic activists are putting targets on the backs of our law enforcement as they shield MS-13, Tren De Aragua, and other vicious gangs that traffic women and children, kidnap for ransom, and poison Americans with lethal drugs.”

An ICE source emphasized the need for a more aggressive approach towards criminal organizations, noting that such groups contribute to the threats faced by agents. “The administration needs to be more aggressive about these groups, which are putting agents’ safety in jeopardy,” the ICE source said.

The exact identity of those responsible for the flyers remains unknown, but anti-ICE activism has surged since a recent leak revealed plans for a significant deportation operation slated for later this month. Activists, including a grassroots group called Unión del Barrio, have organized to patrol migrant neighborhoods, actively looking for ICE agents and alerting residents of possible sweeps. Union member Ron Gochez stated that approximately 150 volunteers have been “combing the streets of Los Angeles” to monitor ICE activities, claiming that they disrupted at least two raids last week.

“We alert people with megaphones. That works. The megaphones wake up the people, they let them know what’s happening,” Gochez explained to local media. Unión del Barrio is part of a larger network known as the Community Self-Defense Coalition, which has sought to obstruct federal operations for years amid a backdrop of increased enforcement under the Trump administration.

Statistically, Los Angeles County is home to more than 800,000 undocumented migrants, with estimates suggesting that one in five Angelenos are or live with someone who is undocumented, according to county data.

In addition to posting flyers, multiple federal sources have verified that activists have also distributed posters displaying the personal information of ICE agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Written in Spanish, these posters warn residents about the agents’ presence and allege that they contribute to community violence and family separations.

Further, the DHS emphasized the legal repercussions for those obstructing law enforcement activities. A spokesperson noted that while individuals are protected by constitutional rights, those who interfere with law enforcement operations could face investigation and prosecution by the Department of Justice. This warning coincides with a larger operation involving ICE, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that is planned in the coming days.