Immigrants are being abducted by ICE every day in Grand Rapids, so come to the Cosecha Assembly on Friday to find out how to fight back

Over the past few months ICE has increased their activity in the Grand Rapids area, often abducting multiple people on a daily basis.

According to a recent MLive article the increase in ICE arrests over the past year has increased by 450%. There have been 779 immigrants taken by ICE in Grand Rapids since January of 2025, but the overwhelming majority of that number has happened in 2026, especially since the beginning of the summer months.

Grand Rapids groups Movimiento Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE have seen this escalation of ICE activity, both in terms of reports of ICE activity and the requests from immigrant families for support after someone was abducted. The Assembly this Friday at 6pm will provide information on ways for people to get involved in resisting ICE in Grand Rapids and Kent County. The assembly will be held at Servant’s Community Church, 53 Deloney Ave SW, Grand Rapids.

Since late July I have been reporting on increased ICE activity, along with an increase in resistance to ICE. On July 19th, ICE abducted someone at the ISAP office, an office where people go to appointments set up by ICE.

On July 28th ICE called the GRPD to come to the 517 Ottawa ICE Office to assist them by removing people who were trying to block the GEO Group van that transports abducted immigrants from Grand Rapids to Baldwin, Michigan.

During a public forum held on July 30th, GRPD Chief Trigg was confronted with questions about his cops collaborating with ICE. Chief Trigg denied any cooperation.

Cosecha held a Press Conference on August 11th regarding Mayor LaGrand’s refusal to meet with them to talk about ICE and the six sanctuary policy demands.

On August 12th I wrote an open letter to Mayor LaGrand challenging him on his silence and complicity with ICE violence.

Dozens of people spoke during the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on August 25th to call for a ban on Flock cameras and for city officials to adopt the 6 sanctuary policies.

Cosecha continued to reach out to Mayor LaGrand’s office to set up a meeting, but he continued to refuse to meet with the immigrant-led group. Here is an article, which includes the Email exchange between Cosecha and Mayor LaGrand’s staff.

After refusing to meet with members of Movimiento Cosecha, Mayor LaGrand released a statement where he continued to deny GRPD collaboration with ICE.

During an action at the 517 Ottawa ICE office the GRPD once again coordinates with ICE and arrests 5 activist attempting to stop the transportation of abducted immigrants on September 12.

On September 22nd several immigrant justice groups held a Press Conference to condemn the death of Mario David Coronado Juarez because of ICE terrorism.

Abolish ICE activists shut down Grand Rapids City Commission meeting over the death of Mario David Coronado Juarez and the city’s failure to adopt the 6 sanctuary policies.

Cosecha, the Guatemalan community, and family members of Mario David Coronado Juarez hosted a vigil at the site of his death.

I wrote a response to Mayor LaGrand’s statement on the death of Mario David Coronado Juarez.

If people want to support immigrant families and reduce the number of ICE abductions then Friday’s Assembly is the place to be. The description for the Facebook event states:

The tragic death of Mario David Coronado Juárez by the violent actions of I-C-E doesn’t have to be in vain and to go unpunished. If you are outraged and wonder what else to do to resist I-C-E, be in solidarity and protect our immigrant neighbors. Join the movement that have been resisting I-C-E in the greater Grand Rapids area.