Tracking ICE Arrests Under Trump’s Second Presidency

Key Concepts:

• ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrests
• Street arrests
• Geolocation
• Visual investigative reporting
• Data analysis of ICE arrest locations
• Concentrated arrests
• Staking out locations

ICE Arrests in New England: A Visual Investigation

1. Introduction:

• The video focuses on the increased rate of ICE street arrests, particularly in New England, specifically within the Boston field office area, following the inauguration of Donald Trump.
• The investigation aims to understand if there are specific patterns or reasons behind the high concentration of these arrests in New England.

2. Methodology: Geolocation of ICE Arrest Videos:

• The reporter, Brena Smith, a visual investigative reporter at the Wall Street Journal, verified the locations of over 120 videos of ICE arrests to confirm if they occurred in New England.
• Each video presented a unique "puzzle" to solve in order to determine the exact location.
• The primary tools used for geolocation were:
  • Google Maps
  • Satellite imagery from Google Earth

3. Case Study 1: Worcester, Massachusetts Arrest:

• The video shows the arrest of a mother at her home in Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Community members attempted to impede the arrest, resulting in multiple videos circulating online.
• By combining footage from various videos, the reporter was able to create a comprehensive view of the street where the arrest took place.

4. Case Study 2: Danbury, Connecticut Arrests:

• A video from January showed an arrest in Danbury, Connecticut, revealing a partial view of a house and a parking meter.
• Geolocation of multiple videos in Danbury revealed that arrests were concentrated near the courthouse.
• Identifying the specific house and parking meter in the initial video was significantly faster due to the concentration of arrests in that area.

5. Findings: Shift in ICE Arrest Tactics:

• The Danbury example illustrates a shift in ICE tactics: instead of targeting specific individuals, ICE was staking out locations, specifically the courthouse, for arrests.
• This tactic of staking out locations for arrests is not limited to New England but is observed across the country.

6. Conclusion:

• The investigation reveals a concerning trend of increased ICE street arrests in New England, particularly around the Boston field office.
• ICE is increasingly using the tactic of staking out locations, such as courthouses, to conduct arrests, rather than solely targeting individuals.
• This shift in tactics is a nationwide phenomenon.