‘Abolish ICE’: Dozens gather at Zipp’s Sports Grill after federal agents raid locations across Phoenix

Following an afternoon of federal operations across the Valley, Arizona community leaders, politicians and residents gathered in protest on Tuesday to demand that those detained be released and an end to the elevated immigration enforcement activity that has been taking place across the country.

“We are here to say we want ICE out of our communities, ICE out of Minnesota, ICE out of our country,” Raquel Terán, former Arizona state senator and current community organizer, said among the dozens that gathered outside of the Zipp’s Sports Grill in Central Phoenix, one of 15 locations hit by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents the day before.

Protestors were quick to respond to alerts on Monday from rapid response organizers notifying community members about the 15 federal search warrants being served as part of a months-long investigation — according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney of Arizona’s office — targeting and detaining several workers at each location in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert.

According to organizers, federal agents detained dozens of people. According to a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona, “one observer reported seeing an employee leaving with injuries and others witnessed protestors getting pepper-sprayed by law enforcement.” The Department of Homeland Security and its agencies have yet to release any details about the operation or the number of people arrested.

The operation came amid weeks of escalated immigration enforcement across the country, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents have taken to violent measures to attempt to dissuade protesters from observing their operations. Two people, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, have died at the hands of federal agents as a result.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs condemned the agents’ actions at the time, calling for “a full investigation and accountability” after Pretti’s death over the weekend. 

On Monday, as the HSI operations unfolded and organizers called community members to observe at each location, Hobbs said in a statement that she understood “the fear and pain it has created in our communities.”

“Now more than ever, it is critical for federal law enforcement to work with state and local officials to build community trust and ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel and members of our community,” she said in the statement shared on social media.

As the operation unfolded on Monday, grassroots organizers reported an overwhelming flow of information called in by witnesses to the Puente Human Movement for Migrant Justice and Borderlands Resource Initiative’s rapid response hotline, (480) 506-7437. The turnout was impressive, they said.

“With the folks that we've trained, we saw this immediate response, and people going out to those areas, but then they didn't get there and stand alone. There were so many people from the surrounding community that found out this was happening and just came out. No training, no connection to a movement, no call to action. They just knew that it was the right thing to do,” Beth Strano, the co-founder and executive director of Borderlands, told CALÓ News. “What happened yesterday, the violence that they enacted on all of these locations, against all of these workers, was horrible, but the community response was inspiring. And that’s what we can continue to grow and we can make it so that ICE actions are not effective in Phoenix. That everywhere they go, they should expect to see us.” 

More and more community members are refusing to remain silent in the face of recent killings, deaths at detention centers and ongoing violations of human rights from federal agents. Minneapolis has taken center stage for weeks, but the ICE raids are continuously happening all over the country.

“It is a complete invasion of Minneapolis and St. Paul designed to create chaos, designed to create violence, so that Donald Trump can be the dictator that he is and invoke the Insurrection Act, which he himself has expressed desire to do so,” former Phoenix City Councilwoman and current U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) said to the crowd outside of Zipp’s on Tuesday just before they marched down Central Avenue to the Phoenix ICE Field Office. “Federal agents have broken the law. They need to be prosecuted. The paramilitary tactics have to cease and desist, and our taxpayer dollars should go to healthcare and housing, not what is happening right now.” 

In a statement, ACLU denounced the “targeting hardworking people who are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families causes lasting harm.” Terán echoed that message.

“We know that the people that were targeted were people who are providing for their families, who are helping these businesses move afloat, even if it’s Zipp’s or any other business,” Terán said. “This is clearly an attempt to try to intimidate the workers, try to create fear in our community, especially as we’re seeing what’s happening in Minnesota. I believe that this is a tactic that creates more uncertainty.”

Community leaders call on community to train and organize

The rally and march that followed was among many events held across Phoenix by organizers hoping to capture the momentum fueling people’s urge to get out, express their anger and demand change. Heeding that call, a nationwide general strike and protest is planned for Friday, Jan. 30. 

“The general strike call is something that everybody can contribute to. Everybody can call in sick to work. Everybody can send a message united. You calling out gets tallied with everybody else who didn't show up to work that day, and that makes a huge difference,” Strano said. “We want to send a clear message to the government that people are not sitting by and saying, ‘that's fine — disappear my neighbors, disappear people in the streets, we're okay with this.’ That everybody is responding. That the response is bigger than what they anticipated, and what they can actually hold without losing power.” 

Rapid response teams that provide resources for those looking to get involved have already seen an influx of people seeking training and information. Just last week, Puente’s training in south Phoenix earlier this month drew over 600 people, and almost every upcoming training they have scheduled is at capacity for sign-ups. They encouraged people to continue attending these trainings and protests and to stay informed about their rights to stay safe. 

“Get connected, find a way to contribute that works for you,” Strano said. “Not everybody can be on the front lines. Not everybody has the safety level to be on the front lines, but there’s always a million ways to get involved, and we want everybody in.”

ACLU has two websites, one in English and one in Spanish, with information about your rights during a raid. Access the English one at acluaz.org/raid and the Spanish one at acluaz.org/redada.

Progreso Proyecto also runs a site dedicated to providing immigration-related information to Arizona community members. The site is primarily in Spanish but can be translated into English and several other languages using a translation toggle. Visit tusderechos.us for more.

CALÓ News compiled a list of community-trusted organizations that assist with immigration-related issues, provide Know Your Rights information, and conduct community trainings to help safely observe ICE actions. Visit the list here.

Analisa Valdez (she/her) is a freelance journalist based in Phoenix. Her reporting includes community & culture, social justice, arts, business, and politics.