A collective of indigenous communities are organizing against ICE releasing resources to inform people who are vulnerable of prosecution in the event they are detained. 

A notice released by Ireta P’urehepech largely focusing on documenting excessive force used by ICE emphasizes the importance of testimony being documented and sent to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The intake complaint form demands the stop of illegal militarized tactics ICE is using against communities.

A community notice released by Ireta P’urehepecha states, “… we strongly condemn the escalation of these no longer detentions but abductions of migrants currently being carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We are particularly alarmed by ICE’s use and escalation of military support and militarized tactics, which cause harm and fear in our neighborhoods and communities.” The notice goes on to inform readers on what to do in resistance to the militarization used against Washington communities.

Among other Mexican diasporas, Ireta P’urhepecha – a tribe of indigenous people from Michoacan – have always had a strong presence in Seattle and counties across Washington. Though not native to Washington itself, Ireta P’urhepecha has organized with other displaced indigenous communities in Washington through Pueblos Originairos (otherwise known as Original Communities). 

Ireta P’urehepecha has extensive resources on their community website. Including upcoming workshops, language and educational resources, and news discussing indigenous perspectives on relevant topics including those involving ICE.

In the case that an incident occurs involving ICE, documenting them doesn’t have to be written, though the notice goes in depth on facts you should document. Including describing ICE or DHS vehicles without official markings, describing armed officers, and describing the actions that took place. 

Actions can include home entries without a warrant, detainment based on racial or language profiling, intimidation of other witnesses like children, elderly, or other individuals. This community notice is pinned across social media platforms and the official Ireta P’urehpecha website. 

Indigenous existence itself is a form of resistance to the militarization and intimidation tactics used by ICE that are part of a long standing history of colonialism and white supremacy. The same concepts that justify the terror inflicted on communities 

Pueblos Originairos is a multi-cultural collective of Indigenous communities of the PNW, as well as other indigenous diasporas (The Ñuu Savi, Kichwa) like the P’urhepecha. Based on interests of resilience and justice, Pueblos Originairos has made progress in not only creating a space for indigenous identities, but reclaiming a voice. 

According to the Ireta P’urhepecha website, Pueblos Originarios is “[a] group whose goal is to solidify a network that centralizes advocacy for displaced Indigenous people who currently reside in Coast Salish Land, known as Western Washington.” 

The aforementioned displacement refers to U.S. displacement of Latin America through colonization and political and economic intervention which has led to economic instability. Which, more relevantly, has led to the need for Latin Americans to immigrate to the U.S. 

Pueblos Originairos advocacy focuses on cultural preservation and addressing local systemic injustice in the context of colonial history (e.g. inequity in resource distribution and data representation). These perspectives are shared through written news, podcasts, social media, and community events.