Chicago, IL – As federal immigration enforcement operations increase across the Chicago area this month, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is reminding residents of their right to safely document Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in public spaces.
According to the organization, reports of ICE sightings have mounted in neighborhoods including Pilsen, Cicero, and Little Village. In response, ICIRR shared a step-by-step guide titled “6 Steps for Documenting ICE or Federal Agents,” aimed at helping community members record law enforcement encounters safely and responsibly.
The group advises residents to stay at least an arm’s length from officers while filming, record horizontally, and narrate what they see — such as the number of agents and vehicles. ICIRR also stresses focusing on agents’ actions rather than bystanders, and avoiding public sharing of videos without consent from those involved or legal guidance from the Family Support Network (FSN) hotline.
ICIRR encourages anyone with footage to call the FSN hotline at 855-435-7693 to connect with an operator who can pass the material to its legal network for review.
The group emphasized that community documentation helps protect individuals’ rights and ensures accountability during enforcement actions. “You have the right to film in public spaces,” ICIRR stated in its post.
