Version 2.2

How to Report ICE Activity

Learn the proper steps to submit a clear, verified ICE Tea Watch report.

6 min readยทQualified Lesson

How to Report ICE Activity

Core Module (All Tracks)

Info

Reporting takes less than 2 minutes and helps protect your entire community. Over 75% of successful field responses start with a clear report from someone like you.


What to Include in a Report

A strong report answers:

  • ๐Ÿ“ Location โ€“ Street address, intersection, or nearby landmark
  • ๐Ÿš— Vehicles โ€“ Type, color, make/model, license plates (if safe)
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎ Agents โ€“ Number of ICE agents or law enforcement officers
  • ๐Ÿ•’ Time โ€“ Time of event and direction of movement
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Media โ€“ Photo/video evidence (only if safe to capture)

The more specific and clear your report, the more actionable it is.

Example Reports

โœ… Good:
"3 ICE agents in navy jackets at Main St Walmart, 2pm. Black unmarked SUV, partial plate 83Z."

โŒ Vague:
"ICE downtown maybe earlier?"


Safety Before Submission

Warning

Always make sure youโ€™re safe before reporting.

Safety Checklist

  • Are you in a secure location with no active agents nearby?
  • Is your device locked (PIN, passcode, or biometric)?
  • Can you document or submit without being seen or tracked?
  • If not โ€” memorize key details and wait to submit when safe.

What to Use for Encrypted Documentation

Most people use their phone camera โ€” that's okay. Here's how to do it more securely:

  • โœ… Use your phoneโ€™s native camera app with your screen lock turned on (PIN or biometrics = basic encryption)
  • โœ… Use apps like Signal to take and send photos โ€” they encrypt everything by default
  • ๐ŸงŠ Avoid uploading to Google Photos, iCloud, or shared folders
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Donโ€™t unlock your phone for agents โ€” you have the right to stay silent

Info

Want extra protection? Apps like Simple Mobile Tools Camera or ObscuraCam let you blur faces and store locally, not in the cloud.


How Your Report Gets Verified

Every report goes through:

  1. Automated Review โ€“ Filters out spam, duplicates, and vague entries
  2. Human Verification โ€“ A trusted volunteer checks accuracy and context

Success

You donโ€™t need to be a dispatcher to help โ€” just share what you see, clearly and safely.


After You Submit

If verified:

  • โœ… Itโ€™s added to the ICE Tea Dispatch
  • ๐Ÿ“ข Volunteers in that area may be alerted
  • ๐Ÿ” Your data is encrypted and never shared with ICE or corporations

What Not to Do

โŒ Donโ€™tโ€ฆBecauseโ€ฆ
Approach or confront ICE agentsIt puts you and others in danger
Film if you feel unsafeSafety comes before footage
Share secondhand rumorsThey spread panic and waste resources

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. ๐Ÿ‘€ Observe from a safe distance
  2. ๐Ÿ“ฑ Record details (or media, if safe)
  3. ๐Ÿงพ Report via the online form

๐Ÿ‘‰ Submit a Report

If you can witness, you can report. You donโ€™t need to be an expert โ€” just a neighbor who cares.


Tool Comparison

ToolPurposeNotes
ICE Tea WatchPublic reporting + heatmap viewNo login required
ICE Tea DispatchField team coordinationRequires login

๐Ÿ“˜ Knowledge Check

What are the most important details to include in an ICE Tea Watch report?

Itโ€™s okay to report what you heard from a friend even if you didnโ€™t witness it yourself.

Which of the following are safe and appropriate actions when reporting ICE activity?

Why should you avoid sharing rumors or secondhand info in a report?

What happens after you submit a report?

ICE Tea Watch reports are encrypted and never shared with law enforcement or corporations.

What tools or info can improve the usefulness of your report?

What should you do if itโ€™s not safe to record during an ICE encounter?

Which tool should you use to submit a public report without logging in?

What is the first thing you should do before reporting an ICE encounter?


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