‘We protect us’: Community leaders build response network after ICE activity

Long before he was elected a Lehigh County commissioner, Jon Irons was a child adopted from Ecuador — an immigrant raised in Pennsylvania who didn’t grow up speaking Spanish or thinking much about that part of his identity.

In recent years, as immigration enforcement increased nationwide, Irons said he began to see that identity differently. He noted the political rhetoric around immigration and said he felt a responsibility to act.

“I’m both connected and impacted by how immigrant communities are talked about,” Irons said. “But I also have a privilege and a platform to advocate. So to me, it was necessary to use my position to help organize as much as I could.”

Irons is one of several community leaders helping build the Lehigh Valley Emergency Response Network, a grassroots coalition formed to help prepare for and respond to immigration enforcement activity in the region.

That work intensified in Bethlehem after 17 workers were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the city’s South Side in early June. In the following days, volunteers held a rally, distributed know-your-rights materials, and began recruiting and training others to join the network.

“The biggest question I’ve heard is: What can we do? How do we help?” Irons said. “People want to be activated.”

The Emergency Response Network — which includes faith leaders, nonprofit groups, and community volunteers — is developing protocols to verify reports of ICE activity, connect affected families with resources, and organize legal and logistical support. Irons said more than 200 people have signed up to participate since the incident.

Josie Lopez, a member of Lehigh Valley ICE Watch, is helping lead the community response. The organization works with the Emergency Response Network to notify residents about a possible ICE presence in the area.

“We’re just ready to do more in solidarity with the immigrant community,” Lopez said. “This work is important because we need to be building real community — because we protect us.”

Lopez’s group is also distributing red cards outlining individuals’ legal rights and other printed materials for businesses and residents. She said they continue to direct attention to the network’s upcoming training events and emergency alert systems.

Some residents are also urging more action from the local government. At a recent Bethlehem City Council meeting, some community members expressed disappointment with the city’s response and called the council to adopt a “welcoming city” ordinance.

Council members acknowledged the concerns but did not act further during the meeting.

Organizers said they plan to continue their efforts regardless of whether city officials respond.

“This isn’t just about one raid,” Lopez said. “It’s about how we care for each other moving forward.”

The next Emergency Response Network training is scheduled for July 5.