Given the increase in ICE operations in California, various organizations have intensified their efforts to protect migrant communities. One of the most active is the so-called Union of the Neighborhood, a Los Angeles-based group that has become a network of surveillance and support against the raids. Through neighborhood patrols, digital alerts, and information campaigns, Union of the Neighborhood seeks to prevent unjust arrests and avoid the separation of families. Its presence on the streets of South Los Angeles has generated national attention and highlights an organized response to immigration policies. Community Networks Against Fear According to the British media outlet The Guardian, Union of the Neighborhood has established a civil surveillance system where volunteers patrol neighborhoods to detect ICE movements and warn the community. When the presence of officers or vehicles belonging to the agency is identified, a messaging and loudspeaker network is activated to alert residents.

To do this, images of said vehicles, license plate numbers, and other details are sent. This mechanism not only prevents arrests but also strengthens trust between neighbors.

This initiative was born from a refusal to live in fear. "They thought they could scare us, but this is Los Angeles," one of the community leaders told The Guardian. The patrols are organized in areas with a high concentration of Latinos, and have successfully stopped several arrest attempts.

Wired reported that digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram have been key tools for Union del Barrio. Through these applications, volunteers disseminate alerts, images, and legal recommendations in real time. They have even developed protocols to record officers without interfering with their operations, protecting both the community and observers.

Unión del Barrio's work also includes legal training, Immigration rights workshops and informational sessions. Their strategy goes beyond immediate response, aiming to empower migrants to recognize their rights and act confidently in the event of a possible detention.

This has not prevented the organization from receiving accusations from public figures such as Senator Josh Hawley, who claimed that the organization "facilitated criminal conduct."

More organizations join the resistance

Unión del Barrio is not alone. Similar movements have emerged across California, such as the Immigrant Rights Defense Network (CHIRLA) and the ICE Out of LA collective, which also publicly denounce operations and provide legal support. In Boyle Heights, for example, volunteers from the group Defend Boyle Heights patrol neighborhoods with megaphones to warn about the presence of ICE. Furthermore, the city of Los Angeles has implemented "sanctuary city" policies, where local authorities do not cooperate with federal immigration agencies. This has created an environment conducive to civil society groups organizing without fear of reprisals from the municipal government.