Migrants in Texas Use Social Media to Evade ICE Raids

In Houston, Texas, immigrant activists are helping their communities navigate the ever-present threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, using social media to provide real-time alerts and guidance.

Every morning, Martina Grifaldo, 62, begins her day by posting a message on Facebook to her 171,000 followers:

“May everyone who goes out today make it home safely.”

The page, co-managed with fellow activist Francisco Mendoza, serves as a real-time warning system. Followers submit photos and videos of ICE activity, enabling the community to monitor and avoid potential raids.

Grifaldo, director of Alianza Latina Internacional, goes on patrol several times a week before dawn, checking areas where ICE frequently operates in Houston, the fourth most populous city in the US and largest in Texas.

“We start around 5:30 or 6 am with a ‘good morning’ message, and people send each other blessings. Then we ask: how are the roads?” Grifaldo said.

ICE raids, often conducted with military-style tactics, have instilled fear within migrant communities. Many images circulating on social media show arrests that can turn violent, alarming civil rights groups.

A common roadside warning, “Beware of ice on roads,” has taken on a double meaning in Latino communities. Grifaldo explains:

“In our posts, we put a picture of an ice cube next to an image of a police officer, and we ask the public to help report where they are.”

Using their own observations and follower submissions, Grifaldo and Mendoza monitor raids across the city. Some ICE agents reportedly fail to identify themselves, do not wear uniforms, or produce arrest warrants, prompting suspicions of bounty hunter involvement, though federal officials deny this.

Even when officially deployed, ICE agents often wear masks and vests and use force, leaving community members feeling perpetually threatened.

“Every time we go out and check the reports, and we see them, we see how they treat our people, we feel… terrorised, because at any time it could happen to us,” said Mendoza, 57, head of Disaster Management at Alianza Latina Internacional.

Grifaldo, a public notary and researcher, and Mendoza, a Mexican immigrant running an air conditioning and plumbing business, volunteer their time to patrol and broadcast alerts live.

During their rounds, they also stop at local establishments, often being thanked by employees for their work.

“I respect them because they are taking risks for us,” said Elizabeth, a 35-year-old Salvadoran woman seeking legal status in the US.
“I take care of my mother, who has fallen ill. Imagine if she was waiting for me, and I did not come home.”

Mendoza criticised the treatment of migrants: “Undocumented people pay so much in taxes… and we don’t receive anything back.”

Indeed, undocumented workers contributed $97 billion in taxes in 2022 alone, according to Americans for Tax Fairness.

During patrols, Grifaldo and Mendoza also check for abandoned work vehicles, such as vans or pickup trucks, which may have been left behind by detained workers.

By late afternoon, the patrol concludes, and Grifaldo posts a final message: “Good night, warriors. Even though it’s hard, we have to rest. Tomorrow will be another day to continue resisting.

Summary Table: Key Facts

This grassroots network highlights the resilience and solidarity within immigrant communities facing heightened enforcement under the Trump administration, using technology and community organisation to stay one step ahead of ICE.