Even as thousands descend upon the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con International: San Diego 2025, ongoing ICE raids throughout the U.S. are keeping many of us—immigrants and citizens alike—on our toes. In the wake of mass arrests and deportations, anti-ICE protests have gained traction not just in the U.S. but internationally as supporters in other countries stand in solidarity with those being taken from their homes and jobs.

On Wednesday, July 24, the official start of SDCC ’25, The Beat received unconfirmed reports of Border Patrol vehicles near the San Diego Convention Center, sparking tension among con-goers. Attendees, guests, and exhibitors are encouraged to stay vigilant and be aware of potential ICE and Border Patrol activity in the area.

In the event that federal officers crash SDCC, it’s important to know your rights and execute them to protect yourself and your community—no matter your immigration or citizenship status.

What to do if you encounter ICE or see someone being detained

If you see ICE or Border Patrol agents near the San Diego Convention Center, call the San Diego rapid response network via the phone numbers below (via California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice). Provide as much information as possible about when and where you saw the agents, how they were dressed, what they were doing, and whether they had visible ID badges.

  • Immigration Legal Service Coalition of San Diego
  • Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties)

If you are entering or leaving the convention center and are stopped by ICE or Border Patrol agents, know your rights and exercise them, per the Immigrant Defense Project:

  • Agents may call your name and ask you to confirm it, then detain you.
    • Before you state your name or say anything else, ask, “Am I free to go?”
      • If they say YES, say, “I don’t want to answer your questions,” or “I’d rather not speak with you right now.” Then WALK AWAY.
      • If they say NO, say, “I want to use my right not to answer questions,” then follow up with, “I want to speak to a lawyer.”
  • If agents try to search your pockets or other belongings, say, “I do not consent to a search.”
  • DO NOT lie, show false documents, flee, or resist arrest.
  • DO NOT answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born.
  • DO NOT hand over your passport, consular IDs, or visas. You do not have to provide these documents unless they have a warrant from a judge. (See the National Immigration Law Center’s comparison between judicial warrants and immigration warrants.)

If you see someone else being detained by ICE or Border Patrol agents, follow these guidelines from the CCIJ and ACLU:

  • Film the encounter – you have the right to film ICE activity as long as you do not interfere and do not hide your phone or recording device.
    • Focus your camera on agents, not their target.
    • Film horizontally to capture more of what’s happening.
    • Seek advice before sharing the video.
    • Save copies of the unedited footage somewhere safe.
  • Take notes of as many details about the encounter as you possibly can:
    • Time, date, and location
    • Name of the person targeted.
    • Were they detained?
    • How many ICE agents were present?
    • How were the agents dressed? Did they have badges?
    • Did the agents mistreat their target or bystanders?

For more information on what to do if you see ICE or Border Patrol agents while at San Diego Comic-Con, visit the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, the Immigrant Defense Project, and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

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1 COMMENT

  1. …And if you’re a guest from another country, and doing any signing, etc – realise that this might be seen as labour, and that may be a breach of your visa.

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