Occupy ICE

Occupy ICE
Title	Occupy ICE
Date	2018
Place	United States
Causes	Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. immigration policy, family separation
Methods	Demonstrations, sit-ins, encampments, civil disobedience

Occupy ICE Occupy ICE was a 2018 series of protest actions against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. immigration policy that drew activists from across the United States. Protesters organized encampments, sit-ins, and demonstrations at federal facilities, invoking tactics reminiscent of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and intersecting with advocacy by immigrant-rights groups, faith organizations, and labor unions. The movement catalyzed municipal, state, and federal responses and influenced debates in legislative bodies such as the United States Congress and state legislatures.

Background

The protests emerged amid national controversy over the 2018 United States family separation policy implemented by the Trump administration and enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. High-profile incidents and reporting by outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and ProPublica amplified grassroots organizing led by groups including Black Lives Matter, Movimiento Cosecha, National Immigration Law Center, and faith-based coalitions such as the Undocumented Youth Movement and local chapters of the Catholic Church. Activists drew tactical inspiration from the Occupy Wall Street sit-ins and from historical movements represented by the Civil Rights Movement, the Sanctuary movement, and the Women's March.

Timeline of Protests

In late June and July 2018, demonstrators initiated encampments in cities including Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Tacoma, Washington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New York. The Portland protests featured a prolonged occupation near an ICE facility and frequent confrontations involving local officials such as Mayor Ted Wheeler and state representatives like Governor Kate Brown. In July 2018, law enforcement actions and municipal ordinances led to dismantling efforts in multiple cities, followed by arrests that brought legal challenges in federal courts including filings in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Throughout August and September 2018, solidarity actions spread to campuses such as University of California, Berkeley and Emerson College, and to transit hubs and courthouses, overlapping with labor strikes and demonstrations by groups like the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of Teachers.

Key Sites and Actions

Notable sites included the ICE facility at Southwest Gale Street in Portland, an encampment outside the federal building in Philadelphia near Independence National Historical Park, and occupations near the Kearny Mesa field office in San Diego. Activists staged sit-ins at field offices operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and organized car caravans, teach-ins, and mass marches in city centers such as Seattle Central District and Downtown Los Angeles. Actions also targeted legislative offices of figures such as Representative Nancy Pelosi and Senator Dianne Feinstein with coordinated lobbying and banner drops during sessions of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.

Participants and Organization

Participants included immigrant families, asylum-seekers, grassroots organizers from Movimiento Cosecha, advocates from American Civil Liberties Union, volunteers from Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, faith leaders from the United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church, and labor organizers affiliated with SEIU Local 49 and teachers' unions. Leadership structures ranged from decentralized affinity groups influenced by Occupy Wall Street consensus models to formal non-profit organizations and legal defense coalitions coordinating with civil rights attorneys from firms and organizations tied to the National Lawyers Guild. Prominent activists who engaged with the protests included figures associated with Black Lives Matter, immigrant-rights organizers such as Lupe Hernandez-style local leaders, and journalists embedded from outlets like Reuters and NPR.

Government and Law Enforcement Response

Municipal authorities invoked ordinances on camping, public safety, and trespass enforced by city police departments including the Portland Police Bureau, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department. Federal responses involved the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service, and coordination with the Federal Protective Service at federal buildings. Several jurisdictions saw elected officials such as Mayor Bill de Blasio and state attorneys general like Xavier Becerra contending with federal requests and local protests, leading to legal disputes in district courts and negotiations mediated by city councils and state legislatures.

Legal and Political Outcomes

Lawsuits challenged arrests and alleged violations of First Amendment rights in federal courts, with cases filed in venues including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Municipal ordinances were revised in several cities, and some local governments passed resolutions condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement practices or limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, echoing sanctuary policies adopted by jurisdictions like Sanctuary Cities such as San Francisco and New York City. The protests contributed to congressional hearings on family separation and increased legislative scrutiny by committees in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Public Reception and Media Coverage

Media coverage ranged from sympathetic reporting in outlets like The Guardian and The Intercept to critical commentary in conservative publications such as The Wall Street Journal and National Review. Opinion pieces appeared from politicians including Senator Elizabeth Warren and conservative figures like Senator Lindsey Graham, while editorial boards at newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune debated tactics and policy implications. Polling by organizations like Pew Research Center and coverage on cable networks including CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC reflected polarized public opinion, influencing subsequent advocacy efforts by immigrant-rights organizations and shaping public dialogue during the 2018 midterm elections.

Category:2018 protests in the United States