Transparency, or Doxxing?
In January, Celeste launched the initiative People over Papers after connecting with fellow TikTok creators passionate about highlighting the ongoing ICE raids affecting their communities. In just ten months, the project has garnered over 19 million unique visitors, with daily traffic averaging between 200,000 and 300,000 users. This surge in interest underscores a crucial demand for transparency regarding immigration enforcement activities.
Celeste envisioned mapping ICE raids not just as an act of defiance but as a way to shed light on what many consider a deeply troubling chapter in American history. “This is about informing people of what is happening in their communities,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of documenting these events. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive record of activities likely to be viewed as a dark period in U.S. history.
People over Papers is part of a broader movement of community-led initiatives designed to track immigration enforcement. One notable example is the ICEBlock app, which was recently removed from app stores, and the Stop ICE Raids Alert Network, both of which enable anonymous reporting of ICE agents conducting raids. These platforms collectively play a pivotal role in offering crucial information to vulnerable populations, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate an environment rife with surveillance.
As Alissa Richardson, a scholar at the University of Southern California, points out, these mapping efforts have become “modern-day Green Books” for immigrant communities. Just as Black travelers historically used the Green Book to avoid hostile environments, these digital resources help Latine families find safety and support in spaces marked by immigration enforcement. They not only promote solidarity but also serve as a vital lifeline for survival strategies in a landscape that often feels threatening.
However, this grassroots effort to promote transparency is met with significant pushback from authorities. Strategies employed by the current administration include pressuring technology platforms to remove vital mapping tools. In a recent development, the Department of Homeland Security issued a subpoena to Meta, requesting access to the Instagram account of the Stop ICE Raids Alert Network, along with others. Fortunately, this subpoena has been temporarily blocked, allowing activists some breathing room as they prepare for a court hearing.
The consequences of these mapping tools extend beyond digital activism; they have tangible impacts on individuals’ lives. For instance, Carolyn Feinstein was reportedly terminated from her role at the Department of Justice due to the work her husband was involved in with the ICEBlock app, highlighting the risks faced by those associated with these initiatives.
David Greene, the director of civil liberties at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, argues that efforts to identify ICE agents should not be framed as doxxing. “The idea that law enforcement would be masked and consequently unaccountable to the people they serve is truly contrary to American values,” he asserts. This perspective raises important questions about accountability and transparency in law enforcement, especially in communities facing the brunt of ICE actions.
Adding to the conversation, Peter Simi, a sociology professor at Chapman University who examines threats to public officials, notes that labeling doxxing as an act of violence may require a redefinition of what constitutes violence in legal terms. This discourse underscores a burgeoning debate around the ethics of transparency and accountability in policing, particularly regarding migrant communities.
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