In the heart of Washington, D.C., a new grassroots campaign has ignited fierce debate and drawn the ire of the White House. Over the past week, hand-made signs have cropped up across the city’s heavily immigrant neighborhoods, nailed to trees and wrapped around electricity poles. Each sign is blunt and direct: “ICE ABDUCTED SOMEONE HERE.” They include the date and time of the suspected arrest, as well as contact information for residents eager to share tips about other Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in their communities.
This campaign, which began to gain traction on October 10 and 11, 2025, is the work of concerned D.C. residents determined to spotlight what they view as a disturbing uptick in federal immigration arrests. In a city known for its strong Democratic leanings and diverse population, the movement has struck a nerve—both locally and at the highest levels of government.
Barbara McCann, a longtime D.C. resident, is among those who have taken to the streets with staplers and poster board in hand. She says her motivation is deeply personal. “They are targeting those who are least able to defend themselves, people without homes and people without documentation,” McCann told The Washington Post. “In the past, when there’s been great injustice, moral clarity takes a long time.” For McCann, the campaign is about bearing witness and forcing her neighbors—and the government—to confront what she sees as an urgent moral crisis.
The signs have appeared in clusters throughout neighborhoods with large immigrant populations, standing as silent witnesses to the tension simmering beneath the surface of the nation’s capital. The message is unmistakable: residents are angry, and they want accountability. The campaign’s organizers say their goal is to document and publicize ICE arrests, which they believe are happening with increasing frequency and, in their eyes, with little transparency or oversight.
The White House, however, sees things very differently. On October 11, 2025, spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a scathing rebuke, calling the signs “untrue smears” against federal officers. In an email to The Washington Post, Jackson insisted that claims of ICE “kidnapping people” were categorically false. “These are false,” she wrote, emphasizing that the rhetoric could have real-world consequences for law enforcement officers. The administration’s frustration is palpable, with officials warning that such campaigns only serve to inflame tensions and put federal employees at risk.
Leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and is led by Secretary Kristi Noem, echoed the White House’s concerns. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin was unequivocal in her response, stating, “ICE is not ‘kidnapping’ illegal aliens.” In her email to The Washington Post, McLaughlin went further, claiming that the “smears are leading to our officers facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them including terrorist attacks, cars being used as weapons, and bounties on their heads.” The gravity of her words underscores the heightened sense of danger and scrutiny federal agents now feel as a result of the campaign.
The debate has quickly become a flashpoint in the broader national conversation about immigration enforcement and the role of local communities in holding federal agencies accountable. For many residents, especially in D.C.’s immigrant neighborhoods, the signs are a form of protest—a way to reclaim agency and shine a light on actions they believe are being carried out in the shadows. The campaign’s very existence is a testament to the deep mistrust some communities harbor toward federal immigration authorities, a mistrust that has only grown as enforcement actions have escalated in recent months.
Yet, for federal officials, the campaign feels like a dangerous escalation. They argue that labeling ICE actions as “kidnappings” is not only inaccurate but also reckless, potentially inciting violence against officers who are tasked with upholding federal law. The claim that assaults on ICE agents have soared by 1000% since the campaign began is a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement in a polarized environment.
There is, as of yet, little clarity about how organized the campaign actually is. While McCann and other residents have been vocal about their involvement, it remains unclear whether a larger group or organization is orchestrating the effort behind the scenes. What is certain, however, is that the campaign has touched a raw nerve in the city and beyond.
For some in D.C., the signs are a necessary wake-up call. They see them as a form of civil disobedience, reminiscent of past movements that sought to expose injustice and demand change. The campaign’s supporters argue that it is not enough to quietly disagree with federal policy; instead, they believe in making their dissent visible and impossible to ignore. “In the past, when there’s been great injustice, moral clarity takes a long time,” McCann said, reflecting a sentiment that resonates with many in her community.
Others, however, worry about the consequences of such public confrontations. Federal officials and their supporters argue that the signs could put officers’ lives at risk and undermine the rule of law. They point to the sharp increase in reported assaults as evidence that the rhetoric has already crossed a dangerous line. DHS spokesperson McLaughlin’s warning about terrorist attacks and bounties on officers’ heads is a stark illustration of the stakes involved.
Amidst the heated rhetoric, the facts remain contested. ICE maintains that its actions are lawful and necessary, carried out under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. Critics, meanwhile, argue that the agency’s tactics are overly aggressive and disproportionately target vulnerable populations. The campaign in D.C. is just the latest chapter in a long-running debate over immigration enforcement in the United States—a debate that shows no signs of abating.
As the signs continue to appear across the city, the conversation they have sparked is unlikely to fade anytime soon. For now, Washington, D.C. finds itself at the center of a national reckoning over immigration, accountability, and the power of protest. Whether the campaign will lead to meaningful change or simply deepen existing divisions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the city’s residents are determined to make their voices heard, no matter the cost.
With passions running high on all sides, the story unfolding in D.C. serves as a vivid reminder that the struggle over immigration policy is not just about laws and regulations—it is also about the people and communities caught in the crossfire.