Locals in Washington, D.C., Take Action Against Federal Surveillance

As federal agents under President Trump increase surveillance across Washington, D.C., local residents are quietly pushing back through grassroots efforts. Last Thursday night, Elli, a 19-year-old resident, spent hours patrolling neighborhoods on foot, using social media to alert others of law enforcement presence. With the help of their phone, Elli documented and shared multiple sightings across the city, walking over 20,000 steps in the process.

In neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, residents gathered outside metro stations, chanting “ICE go home!” in response to Homeland Security personnel. The presence of about a dozen agents, heavily masked, was enough to deter further activity, especially in communities with large Black and Hispanic populations. Similarly, in Mount Pleasant, individuals challenged federal agents directly, questioning their identities and filming them as they left in a nearby vehicle.

Politicians and law enforcement officials have faced protests, including heckling outside Union Station, where Vice President JD Vance and others visited federal troops. These confrontations are part of a broader pattern of local resistance that takes a less visible but equally determined form—documenting law enforcement activities, organizing neighborhood safety efforts, and sharing critical information via phone apps and social media platforms.

Tools like ICEblock, an app designed to track ICE agents in real time, and the Nextdoor neighborhood network are now vital resources for people wanting to stay informed and protect vulnerable communities. Community members are coordinating responses, alerting neighbors about checkpoints, and sharing sightings to ensure collective safety in a time of increased federal presence.

According to Elli, engaging in these efforts is simple—”All you need is a phone.” The grassroots movement in D.C. continues to grow, driven by residents committed to safeguarding their neighborhoods from an expanding security apparatus.