November Peace Coffeehouse: Covering Community Response to ICE

By Ashley Kurz, Managing Editor

Two weeks ago, the Western New York Peace Center (WNYPC) hosted Derek Seidman at their November peace coffeehouse event. Seidman is a historian, researcher and writer in Buffalo, NY. He contributes to TruthOut, an independent journalism platform, about once a week on issues such as migrant rights, politics and ICE coverage. He also writes for Little Sis, a nonprofit research organization focused on government and corporate accountability. He presented his experiences with covering ICE nationwide, specifically the communities response to the mass deportation efforts. 

Part one began with a look at the big corporations in America and which ones were directly supporting ICE. The big ones were Amazon, Google, Citizens Bank, Dell and UPS. Seidman discussed Palantir Technologies and their ImmigrantOS surveillance; this company compiled over $300 million in government contracts in the first six months of 2025. $30 million of that is from the ImmigrantOS technology used to track immigrant movements. The GEO group, a private prison company, has had contracts with ICE for 40 years and they are their largest contractor. Bank of America currently finances deportation under ICE, they stopped the relationship back in 2019 but was pressured by the Trump administration to reconnect. Avelo Airlines, created in 2021, is an ICE deportation carrier that provides transportation for 10%-20% of deportations. 

Seidman then discussed how the community has been responding to ICE and how the community can stay ahead of ICE efforts. The first step is preparedness: being able to understand rights and having a plan is essential. The distribution of information, or training, info cards and education, are top priorities for those acting against ICE. Seidman discusses the NYIC Organization, a nonprofit that legally represents immigrants and organizes rapid response plans. Seidman connected with the Coalición de Derechos Humanos, based in Arizona, specifically with Maria Carrasco, a woman who has been working the phone lines for over 20 years. He shared a quote from Carrasco: “None of this is news for us.” Seidman then discussed community defence; there are many tactics for the community to practice. Some include keeping watch, alerting the community on social media or whistles, documenting ICE's actions and zines, or a small-batch, self-published, non-commercial magazine that can include text, images or artwork. Some patrols were put in place after a day care in Chicago on Nov. 5 was raided, one being “parent patrols.” Parents in the community work in shifts outside while the children are inside to make sure ICE doesn’t take any more of the children. The last method mentioned involves the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the “adopt a corner” program. Community members can volunteer to stand outside Home Depots or Lowes, where raids are common, and keep watch over the area. In case of a raid, they would then alert anyone at a great risk of detainment. 

During the question portion, Seidman was asked for his presentation to be sent out to them. The event's organizers said that they will try to put it on their website, found at www.wnypeace.org. Another audience member asked what projects Seidman is currently working on and where to see his work. Truthout.com has a section called the roundtable conversation where his interviews and articles can be seen. Other than that, he is researching the Blackrock company, utility billing increases and tenant unions.

There will not be a December peace coffeehouse but their online calendar is open to the public on their website.