The Colorado Rapid Response Network is committed to responding to raids, deportation, and any Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity happening across the state in our communities. This statewide network is intended to immediately respond to reported situations by confirming the existence of a raid or the presence of ICE, documenting the case – including using legal observers, and slowing down and controlling the public narrative of these events as we fight to keep our families together. The strategy of CORRN is designed to build relationships across race and language, encourage local communities to work in teams, and document how ICE is acting in Colorado so as an Immigrant Rights movement, we can organize locally and accurately report information to our Coloradan immigrant community.
History of CORRN
After Trump was elected in November of 2016, a group came together to better coordinate efforts and gave rise to two areas of work, sanctuary schools and the Colorado Rapid Response Network; It is a multi-organizational effort with American Friends Service Committee, Colorado People’s Alliance, Together Colorado, Mi Familia Vota, United for a New Economy, Movimiento Poder (formerly known as Padres y Jóvenes Unidos), and CIRC. Multiple staff of each organization received calls and texts of “ICE Sightings” from concerned members and allies. Many were rumors, and we realized we needed a way to communicate accurate information to our communities. Launched in June 2017, as the only statewide hotline, in January 2018, we decided to include southern Wyoming.
To help protect families and communities from rampant deportations, This network launched a 24/7 Hotline at 1-844-864-8341 on June 15, 2017, where anyone can call to report ICE activity and receive support for someone who has been detained or deported. This hotline’s the first of its kind in Colorado. From 2017-to 2020, we’ve received about 936 calls and have confirmed that 265 of these calls were legitimate ICE incidents. The activity that has been reported and the cases that have been documented have helped shape Colorado’s legislation to help defend the rights of immigrants across the state.
The Network
Goals & Objectives
HOTLINE
Have a 24/7 hotline to attend to situations of injustice, particularly raids and deportations with trained dispatchers that can: ACCOMPANY, SHARE RIGHTS, DOCUMENT, ALERT NETWORK
RESPOND & TAKE ACTION
Immediately respond to situations of injustice to:
CONFIRM, DOCUMENT,SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS
Take action to control PUBLIC RESPONSE and have greater PUBLIC OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCURACY
Create community data that is accurate and true and
control public response on situations of injustice
ACCOUNTABILITY
Have greater public officials and law enforcement accountability
About the Hotline
Calling Options: Rapid Response vs. Documentation Line
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Callers can press option 1 for rapid response support during an immigration raid or arrest. Option 1 is a Live hotline 24/7 in which a Dispatcher alerts Legal Observers & Confirmers via text to show up at the scene and help advise folks experiencing an immigration raid about their rights.
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Callers can press option 2 to share their testimony or document a past ICE incident that does not require rapid response support. Option 2: Leave a message to connect with a volunteer to document a case or testimony of a past ICE incident or report a collaboration between law enforcement and ICE. Documenting a case helps Identify the support needed and brainstorm options. The family decides path they want to take.
Why We Document
To Change Policy, Monitor / Track ICE Activity. Adjust our Know Your Rights and Rapid Response Network training, educate the community on tactics being used.
All volunteers and first responders can opt out of text messages alerts.
CORRN Growth
The Volunteer network has grown to 760 people across the state trained as Dispatchers, Confirmers, Legal Observers, and Onsite Action teams. We also have a Public Response Team working on PSAs, FB posts, Media hits, and general rumor control. We have held over 20 trainings with people all over Colorado and Southern Wyoming, including Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Fort Collins, Basalt, Aurora, Frisco, Fort Morgan, Boulder, Longmont, Larimer, WY, etc.
