This post was updated Feb. 16 at 3:17 p.m.

Bangs pierced through a snowy Minneapolis, Minnesota, street Jan. 7 – and later across the phone screens of millions of Americans.

Renee Nicole Good – who had a six year old son – was slumped over in her burgundy car, shot dead by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Eight people died during ICE interactions in January alone, following ICE’s deadliest year in the last 20. Federal agents killed another Minneapolis resident, Alex Pretti, firing 10 shots.

Fewer than 15 miles from UCLA, Keith Porter was killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve.

Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and the legalization of racial profiling by immigration officers has left millions of Americans afraid to leave their homes.

We demand that UCLA administrators and the UC Board of Regents do more to protect students.

UCLA knows the impact of immigration enforcement on students. John McDonald, the director of media relations at the School of Education and Information Studies, published a UCLA Newsroom article in December showing immigration enforcement increased bullying and absence rates among students from immigrant families in public schools.

Students have also done their part. The Undergraduate Students Association Council wrote a letter to UC President Milliken and the UC Board of Regents condemning ICE. Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras, General Representative Jayha Buhs-Jackson and other student organizations also organized the “UCLA ICE Murderers Out” walk out in January to protest increased immigration enforcement activity.

UCLA should follow the lead of meaningful work such as this, which encourages student involvement and builds community, in light of ICE’s terror across Los Angeles. If USAC can achieve this impact as a group of students, UCLA could create change on an even larger scale.

If UCLA knows the extent of harm ICE can cause for students without legal status and students on visas, why has the university not done more to lobby for their rights?

Students can gather more than 1,000 demonstrators, lobby to the UC President and host immigration workshops to protect undocumented students. What, then, is the administration with about $11 billion in taxpayer and student dollars each year doing to keep students safe and keep higher education accessible?

You don’t need a budget of billions to tangibly support immigrant rights. Here are some things every student should do.

If you encounter ICE:

1. Inform rapid-response teams

For ICE sightings in Westwood, you can reach the UCLA ICE hotline at 310-513-5539. For ICE sightings in the broader LA area, you can contact the LA branch of the Southern California Rapid Response Network at 888-624-4752. There are different numbers to call if you witness ICE activity elsewhere in Southern California.

Follow the acronym S.A.L.U.T.E.

S – Size/Strength: How many officers are present?

• “Four-five ICE agents”

A – Actions/Activity: What are the officers doing?

• “Stopping passersby and requesting proof of citizenship”

L – Location/Direction: Where were the officers and where were they moving?

• “ICE agents seen at the intersection of X Street and Y Boulevard.”

U – Uniform/Clothes: What did they look like, and how did you identify them?

• “Green vests labeled ‘Police ICE’ in black and white”

T – Time and date of observation: When did you see them?

• “3:00 p.m. on Feb. 27”

E – Equipment and weapons: What were they carrying?

• “They are wearing hats, spraying tear gas and carrying batons.”

2. Safely record the scene if you feel safe and comfortable doing so

The First Amendment protects your right to film ICE in public areas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. However, you cannot impede agents and should maintain enough distance so that an agent could not reasonably claim interference. You should also avoid filming from within a motor vehicle to avoid accusations you intended to use the vehicle as a weapon.

When documenting ICE’s presence, it is best to access your camera from your lock screen without entering your password. You should also disable face and/or fingerprint ID, which are easier for law enforcement to legally bypass.

From your password-protected device, pan to the surrounding area, especially street signs that identify your location. You can also record a phone screen displaying the date and time.

You have the right to ask the names of those being detained for your recording. Gathering any information from detained people, especially the phone numbers of someone to call, can be crucial for their loved ones to promptly identify their whereabouts.

If you plan to share the video publicly, ask the detained person’s consent when possible.

Even if you witness ICE clearly violate the law, do not interfere. Keep your camera lens fixed on agents.

Lastly, if you are not under arrest, ICE agents do not have the legal authority to confiscate your camera without a warrant or your consent, according to the ACLU.

3. Share your footage but know the risks

It may seem straightforward to share what you have witnessed online. However, you should be aware that the Department of Homeland Security has subpoenaed various tech companies, including Google and Meta, for the personal information behind accounts that track ICE activity, according to a report by the New York Times.

If you are not comfortable posting your footage to a personal social media account, you can also share it with credible media outlets, including The Bruin. If you believe you have evidence of ICE misconduct, you can pass it on to the California Attorney General’s office using this form.

Other ways to take action against ICE:

1. Call your representatives

You can advocate against ICE’s actions even if you never encounter agents directly. Calling lawmakers to demand specific conditions on future ICE-related legislation reminds them their constituents are paying attention.

As of Feb. 12, Senate Democrats voted against advancing the present funding bill for the DHS, which the House passed in January. This will likely trigger a partial government shutdown until congressional leaders can agree on key terms, namely when ICE is required to obtain warrants and whether on-duty agents can don face coverings.

Our concerns must reach legislators in Washington, D.C. – especially in the Senate, where the bill is currently stuck. One way to take action is by calling the offices of your congressional representatives to express how you feel about the current appropriations bill funding DHS.

Below is a script we developed specifically to address your concerns as a UCLA student voter.

Hi, my name is [your name], and I am a constituent from [your city and state]. My zipcode is [your zipcode]. I am reaching out to [representative name] to urge them to vote against any appropriation bills that fund the Department of Homeland Security and, therefore, ICE.

As a student at UCLA, I have seen firsthand the damage that immigration enforcement has had on our school and the greater Los Angeles community. My friends, classmates and neighbors deserve to live without fearing sudden detention for themselves or their loved ones. As a voter in your district, immigration is one of my top concerns and will affect how I decide to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.

Thank you for your time.

You can identify your congressional representative here. As of publication, UCLA falls within the constituency of Representative Ted Lieu and Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.

2. Volunteer for immigrant rights organizations

Volunteering at local organizations working to support immigrant communities is another option for students looking to support legally vulnerable peers.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights organizes campaigns against discriminatory policies and lobbies for protections for undocumented students. You can apply to volunteer for CHIRLA, where you may provide security at demonstrations and canvassing during election cycles, through this link.

Siempre Unidos LA, an organization which distributes food and offers emergency support to local families affected by ICE, offers volunteer positions for ride services and grocery deliveries. You can apply here.

UCLA also partners with Nourish LA to host weekly food drives at University Village Apartments. Volunteers set up and take down tents and tables, sort produce and distribute food donations. More information can be found through this link.