Vocativ found several online groups operating in areas of California, Texas, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia. Users in these groups have shared information including whether there are checkpoints on local roads; photos and locations of pulled over police cars in certain areas; and advice on encounters with cops and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In one group, Retenes California, which counts more than 115,000 members on Facebook, users and administrators have recently posted tips for how to properly follow driving safety rules to avoid getting pulled over by the police.
While some of these Facebook groups have existed for some time, many have been formed in response to President Donald Trump taking office. And the groups appear to be seeing spikes in membership after Trump announced a host of new and expanded policies that allow for more, and speedier, deportations. For example, one group dedicated to locating immigration checkpoints in El Paso, Texas, added nearly 2,000 members since it was founded last week, on February 16. Facebook searches for the words “redadas (raids),” “ICE alerta (ICE alert),” or “retenes (checkpoints)” turn up dozens of similar groups.
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