What to do if you hear a whistle

Kate Macfarlane, 11/8/2025

This is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer or an expert on immigration. This document contains possible ways to respond in the event ICE comes to your neighborhood. This document is informed by my understanding of events in Chicago and guidance published by WAISN, ILRC, ACLU, and other reputable sources.

If you hear a whistle, it may mean that ICE is nearby. You decide what to do next based on your personal vulnerability, abilities, and risk tolerance.

As you read this document, think through what YOU personally will do if you see ICE or hear a whistle. Think about different scenarios where this might happen: at your workplace, at your home, at the grocery store, walking the dog, picking up your children from school, driving by in your car, etc. Your response may change depending on the situation, and that’s okay! Making plans in advance will help you respond in the moment.

When You Hear a Whistle

The two best options are: 1) get yourself to safety or 2) go help. You can also choose 3) do nothing, but look how that turned out for the Germans.

DON’T spread panic. A whistle does not 100% mean that ICE is nearby. It could be a false alarm. Spreading unconfirmed rumors causes fear and confusion.

DO educate those around you.

  • “Oh, that sounds like an ICE alert whistle. I’m going to the back room, but maybe you [white person] could go see what’s going on?”

DO remain calm. Take a deep breath. It is normal to feel fear, anger, panic, and/or confusion, but acting emotionally can endanger yourself or others. Remember your plan

Get Yourself to Safety

  • Walk with purpose. Run only as a last resort. Get indoors, to a private residence or portion of a business that is marked as private.
  • Shelter in place.
  • Do not open the door. Communicate through a window or closed door. Do not open the door unless you see an arrest warrant signed by a judge.
  • Remain silent and do not sign anything.

Go Help

Go towards the whistle! Urgently! Run if you can! Follow the sound of the whistle until you see ICE or confirm that it was a false alarm. Once there, form a crowd out of grabbing distance.

Within that crowd, there are options for what to do next. Pay attention to what other crowd members are doing to ensure you’re covering as many roles as possible.

  • Record on your phone
  • Film horizontally (more context)
  • Focus on the ICE agents and vehicles, not the person being detained.
  • Narrate what you see, with as much detail as possible:
  • Time, date, exact location you are filming
  • Number of agents - clothes, uniforms, badges, weapons, agencies, names
  • Number of cars - license plates, agency markings
  • Any use of physical force
  • Language used by the officers, especially hate speech or identity speech and anything false or unproven

  • Text your local rapid response with location (address or cross streets), date and time, and details.
  • Statewide: 844-724-3737  (WAISN)
  • SW WA: 503-388-5356 (LULAC)
  • East King County: 425-361-0808 (East King RISE)
  • The sooner they have a confirmed report, the sooner they can dispatch trained rapid responders and lawyers. When you can, send photos, videos, any other documentation.
  • Keep blowing your whistle.
  • Ask ICE agents for details - why are they here? What are they doing? What are their agencies, names, and badge numbers? What agency do they represent? Consider calling 911 if agents refuse to provide identifying information.
  • Make noise: heckle, yell, shame, question, exercise your 1st Amendment rights.
  • Ask the person being detained for an emergency phone number to contact (but nothing else)
  • Look for people who might need help, and help them

Other Guidelines:

  • Listen to trained rapid responders, if and when they arrive on the scene.
  • Do not disclose anyone’s legal status, even if asked by ICE. You do not have to answer questions about others, you are only required to present your own paperwork when asked by an immigration officer.
  • Stay out of arms reach at all times
  • If asked to back up, take a step back and record yourself doing so. State firmly and calmly: “I am backing up. I am exercising my right to record and document.” If officers get too close to you, state that you have stepped back and repeat you are exercising your right to record.
  • Change your phone settings to require a passcode for log in. (Officers can use FaceID without your consent.)

Legal stuff (from a non-lawyer, not giving any legal advice)

It is illegal to obstruct a federal officer in the performance of their official duties. It is not illegal to blow a whistle—that is protected speech. You have the right to record activity and interactions with immigration and law enforcement officers, so long as you do not impede them from doing their job.

We have seen lots of evidence of ICE and other federal agencies acting illegally and in violation of constitutional rights. Chicagoans have been illegally assaulted and detained when peacefully protesting. Following the laws does not guarantee your safety. Each of us must act according to our consciences, with knowledge of our rights, and with awareness of potential risks.

WAISN Bystander Guidelines: https://waisn.org/bystander-and-observer-guidelines/ 

Do you have the right to record ICE activity? Safety tips for bystanders 

Tri-City Herald

By Karlee Van De Venter and Rosemary Montalvo Updated July 2, 2025

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article308401160.html

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/state/washington/article298994700.html