La Luz Center Launches Initiative to Document Searches Conducted by ICE

immigration-arrests
immigration-arrests

In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers apprehend a fugitive during ICE's National Fugitive Operations search in Huntington Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sonoma nonprofit La Luz Center is launching an initiative to document searches conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The co-chair of the Rapid Response Program says a team of trained “legal observers” will be sent to every ICE raid in the region after confirming ICE activity is actually happening. In teams of five, observers will congregate at the identified location, but will not engage or interfere with law enforcement in any way. Observers will stand the legally mandated distance away from the parties and simply record the event, which then could be used in court.