LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of people gathered at MacArthur Park on Saturday for the launch of a community initiative to monitor federal enforcement of suspected illegal immigration.
The Save America Movement is described as “a rapid-response and civic empowerment initiative to ensure the American people have a clear understanding of the actions and impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in our communities while providing support to impacted communities.”
Organizers plan to have trained camera crews and volunteers help capture ICE operations as they’re happening. The group unveiled three specially outfitted vans Saturday, dubbed Liberty Van One, Two, and Three, which will be staffed by trained volunteers, including lawyers, clergy, veterans and videographers.
“Los Angeles will always stand with families under threat,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “Angelenos are showing the country that when our communities are targeted, we respond with solidarity, with resources, and with an unbreakable commitment to justice.”
President Donald Trump, while campaigning, promised safety and security. He promised that changes to immigration policy would target criminals. His campaign, he said, was intended to rid the country of people he has called murderers, terrorists, drug dealers, animals -– “the worst they have in every country, all over the world.”
White House Border Czar Tom Homan has said undocumented immigrants in the country illegally, even without criminal records, should be arrested. “It’s not OK to be in this country illegally,” he has said.
Critics, however, have called the government’s mass deportation campaign inhumane.
In the coming weeks, organizers will be recruiting and training volunteers to staff the Save America Movement vehicles, to be deployed in early October.
More information can be found at thesaveamericamovement.org
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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