In the next several weeks there is likely to be a surge of ICE enforcement in New York state and NYC. Although ICE has been operating with increased frequency in the city since last year, the DHS seceratary has now made clear they will be surging the city in response to some very tame anti-ice legislation that was passed in the recently .
This is an opportunity for anarchists to make clear the state of play here, and this anarchist thinks its important for ICE to meet organized and loud resistance from the jump. There is infrastructure here through the likes of community patrol and rapid response networks that allows for notification of active ice raids as well as more stationary ICE infrastructure that is throughout New York that is already known.
Its important that any confrontations with ICE are material from the jump. In Minneapolis though the surge there was met with a wide community response it was mostly led by liberal groups supporting the democratic state government. A surge in New York is an opportunity to address ICE presence in a way that actually works to decrease deportations long term and widen antogonistic struggle against the state here.
Liberal and radlib groups opposing ICE as well as likely the city government will be out doing what they do, and the only counter to that is direct action that pushes the confrontations beyond liberal capture & betrayal.
Tom Homan (DHS seceratary) has made clear that they will approach NYC from a different angle tactically to avoid the difficulties from the Minneapolis surge. That means we are much more likely to see large amounts of targeted warrant kidnappings as opposed to broad street sweeps, though that’s possible too.
Regardless of what form it takes anarchists in new York should take the opportunity to check in with friends, pack up their gear and be ready for what might happen soon. Keeping fellow New Yorkers safe means direct action, and that means being ready for that.
Submitted anonymously.