Liberty Vans Mobilize Across US Cities to Aid Immigrants and Record ICE Operations
In a striking response to intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, a fleet of vans adorned with Statue of Liberty imagery has emerged in major American urban centers. These Liberty Vans, or camioneta de la libertad in Spanish, are actively providing crucial assistance to immigrant communities while meticulously documenting federal enforcement actions.
Bipartisan Coalition Powers Humanitarian Mission
The initiative represents a politically diverse collaboration that transcends traditional partisan divides. Led by Mary Corcoran, a former Democratic public relations executive, and Steve Schmidt, the ex-Republican strategist who co-founded the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, the movement frames ICE's tactics as a fundamental moral issue rather than a political one.
"Americans are waking up and realizing that there is power in protesting, organizing and mobilizing," declared Corcoran. "I'm so encouraged to see Americans banding together, peacefully organizing and sharing videos and content so that we can all see with our own eyes the horrors this administration is inflicting on our country."
Their non-profit organization, Save America Movement (Sam), conceived the Liberty Vans project to illuminate how daily immigration raids profoundly affect vulnerable communities. When deploying to new locations, Sam coordinates with local networks of trained legal professionals, faith leaders, videographers, and military veterans representing diverse political backgrounds.
Comprehensive Support and Strategic Documentation
The three-vehicle fleet, named for World War II Liberty ships that supplied Allied forces, offers multifaceted assistance:
- Moral and legal support for immigrant families
- Visible solidarity during enforcement operations
- Documentation of ICE activities through high-definition recording
- Partnerships with established immigrant advocacy organizations
Volunteers strategically position themselves at locations frequently impacted by ICE enforcement, including Home Depot stores, swap meets, grocery outlets, and residential neighborhoods. Clergy members provide spiritual comfort, while immigration attorneys distribute "know your rights" information to day laborers and other immigrants. Staff additionally offer practical assistance like water and snacks while connecting individuals with local support networks.
"When you have a war veteran on a van, that person is going to elicit a higher level of respect," observed Fabian Núñez, former California Assembly Speaker and Sam steering committee member. "And pastors call on people's better sides. We needed to protect Latino and other immigrants with people who understand the higher calling."
Capturing Evidence for Future Accountability
The documentation aspect represents a critical component of the Liberty Vans mission. Over the past four months, volunteers have captured disturbing footage including:
- ICE agents firing pepper balls at peaceful protesters
- First-hand accounts of immigration raids
- Federal agents aiming weapons at photojournalists
- Violations of judicial restraining orders in Chicago
- Personal stories illustrating the human impact of anti-immigrant policies
"The footage is really important when the gavel is in a different hand and House after November 2026," explained Corcoran, who enlisted a warzone videographer to document operations in Minneapolis. "We anticipate handing over everything to the committees as evidence when they go to hold these people accountable, which will happen."
Legal experts emphasize the evidentiary power of this visual documentation. "These images are very powerful and they can capture a violation in a way that can galvanize the public," noted Stephen Lee, a UC Irvine law professor specializing in immigration law. "Footage quickly discredits the government's account of things, which can stymie their effort to go after and discredit the victims of violence."
Growing Public Opposition to ICE Tactics
Recent polling indicates significant shifts in public perception regarding immigration enforcement. Following violent raids in Los Angeles beginning June 2025, support for ICE has dramatically declined. Current surveys reveal that a majority of Americans now support abolishing the agency, while 65% of registered voters believe ICE has "gone too far"—an eleven-point increase from just months earlier. Additionally, 60% of voters advocate for ICE withdrawal from Minneapolis specifically.
The Liberty Vans initiative emerges from broader concerns about democratic erosion. Corcoran described her motivation: "I was watching our democracy be taken apart piece by piece. It was happening so fast I thought if this continues at this pace, and there is no opposition, we're not going to make it to the midterms."
Núñez, who organized undocumented immigrants before his political career, highlighted the psychological dimension of immigration enforcement: "[The federal government] is trying to break the spirit of an entire community. It's a psychological fight they have even with children. When we arrive on the scene, sometimes the agents have already left, and then there's all the damage they leave behind."
Through their dual mission of direct support and evidentiary documentation, the Liberty Vans represent a growing grassroots response to immigration enforcement practices, blending humanitarian assistance with strategic accountability efforts across the United States.
