Rapid Response Training
Dispelling Rumors & Protecting Neighbors
Documenting ICE actions
The Yakima Immigrant Response Network’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) is a community defense project in Yakima County developed to protect immigrant families from deportation threats and to provide accompaniment support during and after a community member’s arrest or detention by ICE.
RRT relies on committed trained volunteers to protect our neighbors at risk of ICE activity. RRT partners with and coordinates efforts with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN).
Values:
Dignity, Respect, Integrity
What’s the training for?
Documenting ICE Encounters and Raids
The WAISN training will provide interested community members an opportunity to:
- learn more about the nature of ICE Actions
- become part of a local Immigration Raid Rapid Response Team that helps verify reported, or rumored, raids in our Yakima Valley communities so that together we can share accurate information with the community and mobilize interpreters and assistance for family members.
- learn how you can support the efforts of YIRN to support our immigrant communities
Rapid Response, volunteer-led community teams, exist to bear witness and hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies accountable during immigration enforcement activity. Through this process, we organize community pressure to deter detentions and stop deportations so we keep families together.
Helpful information
Resources
Tip Sheet: Filming with a Mobile Phone / HOJA CONSEJO “Filmando con: un teléfono móvil”– Witness.org
Filming Immigration and Customs Officials (ICE) / Filmar a funcionarios de inmigración y aduanas (ICE) – Witness.org
A Brief Guide for Sharing Reports of Raids on Social Media / Breve guía para compartir información sobre redadas en las redes sociales – DRUM
Redada? Como reportar actividad de Inmigración y evitar Propagar panico y confusión – OCAD
How to Film with a Mobile Phone – Witness: See It, Film It, Change It
Filming an ICE Arrest the Right Way Matters – NowThis Impact
Yes, You Have the Right to Film ICE – electronic Frontier Foundation
Past Raid Response/Verifier Trainings
YIRN has conducted training sessions for verifiers / observers in:
- Yakima – July 26, 2017 – Seasons Performance Hall
- Sunnyside – November 30, 2017 – co-sponsored with Nuestra Casa
- Wapato – April 10, 2018 – co-sponsored with the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington State
- Sunnyside – August 16, 2018 – co-sponsored with Nuestra Casa
- Toppenish – November 15, 2018 – Heritage University co-sponsored with M.E.Ch.A.
- Yakima – August 29, 2019 – Central Lutheran Church
- Toppenish – March 29, 2025 – Heritage University
Working Together .. for Our Community!
- Our thanks to Central Lutheran Church for providing the wonderful venue for our August 2019 Training. Your support is much appreciated.
- Our thanks to Mecha for co-sponsoring the Know Your Rights and Raid Verification/Observer Trainings at Heritage University in 2018!
- Our thanks to Nuestra for co-sponsoring the Know Your Rights and Raid Verification/Observer Trainings in Sunnyside in 2018!
- Our thanks to APIC for co-sponsoring the Raid Verification/Observer Training in Wapato in April 2018!
See upcoming Raid Response/Verifier training dates on our Events page.
