The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America plans to train about 4,000 volunteers for 'rapid response' actions to monitor—and in some cases impede—ICE operations across the city. Organizers point to tactics used during Minnesota protests after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, including whistles and neighborhood alerts. DHS did not immediately comment, and the White House has discussed possible federal measures; the Army's 11th Airborne Division was put on prepare-to-deploy orders for Minnesota.
NYC DSA To Train About 4,000 Rapid-Response Volunteers To Monitor ICE Operations
Democratic Socialists of America in NYC training thousands of activists to counter ICE: report
New York City's chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is mobilizing a large volunteer effort to respond to anticipated federal immigration-enforcement actions, according to reporting by The New York Post and Fox News.
At a recent internal meeting, local DSA leaders described plans to train roughly 4,000 volunteers — drawn from both members and non-members — to take part in so-called 'rapid response' actions. Organizers say volunteers will monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and, in some cases, attempt to impede enforcement operations to prevent detentions.
A person blows a whistle as Border Patrol agents arrest a man on Jan. 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Getty Images)
One DSA leader who identified herself only as Marina told the Post that similar responses in New York have previously been 'enough to deter ICE detentions.'
'The whistles carry far and wide,' Marina told the Post.
Organizers cited tactics used during recent confrontations with ICE in Minnesota as a model, including the use of whistles and other noisemakers to alert neighborhoods and quickly mobilize activists. Supporters say these measures can protect vulnerable residents and deter detentions; critics warn they could obstruct lawful enforcement and increase the risk of confrontations.
Police in tactical gear arrive downtown as protesters gather on Jan. 17, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Minnesota protests followed the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation. Demonstrations across the state included signs reading 'ICE out for good' and 'Resist,' and federal officers reportedly used tear gas near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul to disperse some gatherings.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and to use federal troops in response to unrest, though he later said deployment was not needed 'right now.' Fox News also reported that the Army's 11th Airborne Division was placed on prepare-to-deploy orders for Minnesota; it remained unclear whether that unit would be deployed.
The DSA's New York plans aim to build a broad volunteer network capable of rapid neighborhood alerts and on-the-ground monitoring. Organizers frame the effort as a way to protect residents and deter detentions; law-enforcement officials and some critics say such tactics risk interfering with lawful operations and public safety.
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