What To Do If ICE Arrives at Plymouth – Guides + Resources

Parishioners have asked what they should do, and not do, if they are present when ICE or other federal officers seek entrance to the Church. Let the staff handle all such situations. Our staff are trained on how to respond. The Church is usually locked. Staff will not allow law enforcement to enter unless they present a valid judicial warrant.

Do not open any door that officers are seeking to enter. Contact the front desk.
Do not try to exit the Church by any door if you see officers near it. Find another exit or stay inside until the situation is resolved.
You are legally permitted to take photos and videos that record the actions of ICE officers, including their faces and badges, if visible—but only from a safe standoff distance.
You should not heckle, confront, engage, or impede law enforcement. The role of a “Constitutional Observer” in such a moment is to document what is happening, not to protest.
If other church members are with you, you may encourage them to do the same with their phone cameras, provided they are willing to record while observing these restrictions.
If you take photos or videos, the staff can send them to the Church’s lawyers. Do not post anything on the internet or on social media. Dissemination other than to a bona fide immigrant rights organization’s legal staff puts detainees, their family members, and bystanders at risk of surveillance and arrest.

Here are four organizations that gather evidence and distribute alerts to the public about raids, detentions, and disappearances. Several PCC members have completed their training.

Monarca

You can sign up for excellent training to become a Monarca “Upstander” at https://monarcamn.org/training.

If you attend one of these trainings:

You will be provided with hotline numbers to submit text alerts in real time about incidents you witness.
You will be taught how to record encounters and confrontations on video from a safe distance, and why you must not engage in protest or heckling while recording.
You’ll learn why you don’t post your footage on social media.
You’ll see examples of judicial warrants and learn to distinguish them from administrative warrants.

Monarca Handbook: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:ddea7f2b-ddc0-47ef-95eb-fa4d0e508be2

Monarca Resource Guide: https://monarcamn.org/resources