Anti-ICE Network in NYC Grows to 4,000, seeks to Mirror Minnesota Tactics

New York City socialists are organizing thousands of anti-ICE activists in preparation for what they expect will be a major increase in federal immigration enforcement in the city, according to remarks made at a recent meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America, as reported by The New York Post.

Members of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America outlined the plan Thursday during a monthly meeting of the group’s Immigrant Justice Working Group.

NYC socialists mustering army of 4,000 anti-ICE activists to bring Minnesota tactics to Big Apple https://t.co/O1jxR1ePjV pic.twitter.com/Rp5tUEllZB

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) January 18, 2026

The gathering was held at the People’s Forum in Midtown Manhattan, a venue that has been linked to Chinese Communist Party-affiliated groups and features imagery of communist figures, including Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

The meeting drew more than 100 attendees. Organizers said the group is preparing for what they described as an imminent crackdown on illegal immigration by federal authorities.

“As we’ve seen in other cities, we still do anticipate a big wave of federal immigration enforcement,” said a DSA leader who identified herself only as Marina.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“It can be confusing, it can be scary, it can be kind of uncertain what’s happening in New York right now. . . . But we want to be on our front foot if and when it does.”

According to speakers at the meeting, the NYC DSA plans to train approximately 2,000 DSA members and another 2,000 non-members to participate in “rapid response” teams designed to confirm ICE sightings and confront agents during enforcement actions.

The group also plans to activate roughly 50 additional trainers and expand staffing of its ICE hotline to operate around the clock.

“If you speak Pular, if you speak Creole, if you speak Fulani – come find us,” one leader told the crowd. “We really want you on the team.”

Organizers did not disclose the cost of the expanded operations but repeatedly solicited donations throughout the nearly two-hour meeting. At one point, a leader circulated the room collecting cash contributions.

Several attendees said they were first-time participants motivated by the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month during a confrontation.

Leaders said the activist tactics used in Minnesota would serve as a model for similar efforts in New York City.

“ICE is a violent organization and has been emboldened to respond to a lot of the work that many of you participated in,” one leader said.

DSA member Landry, a tenant organizer from Crown Heights, criticized federal immigration enforcement, saying, “The immigrant crisis is part of the US imperialist project, and yet we treat immigrants to the experience of ICE.”

The group’s strategy includes showing up in large numbers to swarm ICE agents and use noise to disrupt operations.

Marina described the tactic as “form a crowd, stay loud,” which includes the use of rape whistles to alert neighborhoods.

“If you’re interested in doing this kind of work, we can hook you up with whistles,” Marina said.

“We do have a lot of whistles,” added Leemah Nasrati, a pro bono refugee lawyer who helps lead the group’s “Know Your Rights” trainings.

DSA leaders said whistle signals would carry through neighborhoods to warn residents of ICE presence. The group has been canvassing areas including Chinatown, Bushwick, and Jackson Heights to recruit participants.

“There are more of us than them,” Nasrati said, urging attendees to join a vetted Signal chat to participate in the group’s rapid response efforts.

The organizing push comes as ICE has expanded its workforce and enforcement activity nationwide.

According to reporting by WIRED, a senior White House source said after recent operations in Minnesota that “California and New York are next.”

ICE said a recent nationwide operation resulted in the arrest of criminal illegal migrants convicted of crimes including forcible rape, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and strangulation.

“ICE law enforcement officers are sending criminal illegal aliens where they should have been all along – HOME for the holidays,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in December.

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to open a new ICE detention facility in Chester, New York, about an hour north of the city.

The facility would hold 1,500 illegal migrants and more than double regional detention capacity.

The only current ICE detention center serving the New York City area is a 1,000-bed facility in Newark, which was reopened last year under President Donald Trump.

Federal officials have said the expanded detention capacity is expected to coincide with increased ICE enforcement across the New York City region.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.