NYC Socialists Mobilize Thousands to Counter Federal Immigration Crackdown
Democratic Socialists of America activists in New York City are organizing a massive resistance effort against anticipated federal immigration enforcement actions. According to reports, the group plans to train and deploy more than 4,000 people to form what they call "rapid response" battalions.
Planning for Confrontation
The strategy was detailed during a recent meeting of the DSA's Immigrant Justice Working Group. Members gathered at the People's Forum in Midtown Manhattan to coordinate their response to what they expect will be increased ICE activity.
"We still do anticipate a big wave of federal immigration enforcement," said Marina, a DSA leader who addressed the gathering. She emphasized the group's determination to be proactive, stating they want to be "on our front foot if and when it does."
Building a Resistance Network
The New York City chapter has outlined an ambitious training program:
- 2,000 DSA members will receive specialized instruction
- 2,000 non-members will join the training sessions
- 50 additional trainers will be activated to expand capacity
- The group's ICE hotline will operate 24 hours a day with expanded staffing
Organizers made specific appeals for multilingual volunteers during the meeting. "If you speak Pular, if you speak Creole, if you speak Fulani — come find us," one leader urged participants, highlighting the diverse immigrant communities they aim to protect.
Funding the Operation
While organizers haven't disclosed the total cost of their planned operations, fundraising was a central focus of the nearly two-hour meeting. Participants passed around a red beanie to collect cash donations, described by observers as a "socialist version of a collection plate."
Motivation from Recent Events
The death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month, has fueled the group's determination. Good had been part of an anti-ICE group trained to resist immigration enforcement actions.
"ICE is a violent organisation and has been emboldened," a DSA leader told attendees, according to meeting reports. The New York chapter now hopes to replicate the tactics used by Good's group.
Federal Enforcement Expansion
The planned resistance comes as ICE prepares for increased operations nationwide. Reports indicate the agency has more than doubled its personnel over the past year and is planning large-scale actions in major cities including New York and California.
Recent nationwide ICE operations have resulted in arrests of illegal migrants convicted of serious crimes including:
- Forcible rape
- Aggravated sexual assault of a child
- Strangulation
The confrontation between federal immigration authorities and organized resistance groups appears to be escalating as both sides prepare for potential clashes in America's largest cities.
