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The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is organizing a large-scale effort to mobilize thousands of activists to respond to expected federal immigration enforcement actions, the New York Post reported.
The newspaper said DSA leaders at a recent meeting outlined plans to train nearly 4,000 volunteers, both members and non-members, to participate in what they described as “rapid response” actions aimed at monitoring and, in some cases, disrupting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the city.
“This has in the past in New York specifically been enough to deter ICE arrests,” said a DSA leader who went by only the name Marina, according to the outlet.
Organizers also pointed to protests and confrontations involving ICE agents in Minnesota as a model for the tactics they hope to bring to New York.
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A person whistles as Border Patrol agents arrest a man on January 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturin/Getty Images)
These tactics include using whistles and other noise-making devices to alert neighborhoods to ICE activity and quickly attract activists to the scene.
“The whistles are spreading widely,” Marina said, according to the newspaper.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Minnesota Faculty Union calls for ‘economic blackout’ to protest ice operations in Minneapolis
Protests have erupted in Minnesota since the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Goode by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation.
Minneapolis police with tactical gear arrive on the street in downtown Minneapolis as protesters gather on January 17, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
Across the state, protests against ICE drew demonstrators carrying signs reading “ICE is out for good,” “Quit your job,” and “Resist,” while federal law enforcement officers deployed tear gas to disperse crowds outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul.
President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, sending US military forces to the Twin Cities.
Trump on Friday appeared to downplay the significance of his comments, telling reporters that they were not needed at the moment.
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“I don’t think there’s any reason now to use it, but if I need it, I’ll use it. It’s very powerful,” he said.
Fox News confirmed on Sunday that the Army’s 11th Airborne Division was recently placed on standby orders for deployment to Minnesota, though it remains unclear whether the unit will eventually be sent.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.