The Marching Arts Are Not Immune from ICE
There is a dangerous myth circulating right now that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a problem for “other” communities, in “other” spaces, and that arts organizations, especially youth-based ones, will somehow be spared from their terror.
That myth is already collapsing.
In recent months, ICE activity has escalated across the United States, including confirmed raids across Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and the tragic, violent killing of Renee Good by murderer Jonathan Ross is proof of that. People young and old, including US citizens, are being taken from their homes, their workplaces, their cars, immigration court, and the streets and into ICE custody by violent force. This is not theoretical. This is happening right now, and if this continues at its current pace, the marching arts will not doubt soon be affected.
MAASIN exists to advocate for the safety, access, and inclusion of all people in the marching arts, especially those who have been historically excluded and under-protected. That responsibility includes naming real threats when they emerge, even when doing so is uncomfortable.
There are confirmed cases of ICE activity in the very same communities where members of the marching arts live, rehearse, tour, and compete. Any undocumented person, any mixed-status family, and any person of color is already at risk simply by existing in a public space. The idea that drum corps, winterguard organizations, or touring ensembles are somehow insulated from this reality is dangerously naïve.
We are currently in the winter season, which means WGI events are already underway, and are often hosted at large public schools, convention centers, and shared community facilities. These are highly visible spaces, frequently located in urban and suburban areas where ICE activity has already been documented across the country.
Looking ahead to the summer, the risks escalate for our members and staff even further. Drum corps and touring ensembles spend weeks on the road. They travel across state lines. They stop at rest areas. They rehearse in public lots. They sleep in school buildings. They rely on host sites, volunteers, and local infrastructure to operate effectively. Any of these moments could become a point of ICE interaction, whether through traffic stops, checkpoints, housing site visits, or enforcement actions nearby that spill over into the vicinity of the drum corps.
It is not helpful to our students, staff, and other marching arts volunteers to deny the real threat this poses not just to the individuals in our activity, but to the future of the activity itself.
ICE enforcement does not operate with transparency, consistency, or accountability. Individuals are detained without warning, legal rights are frequently violated or obscured, and enforcement disproportionately impacts people of color, regardless of immigration status. To assume that marching arts members will be exempt from this reality is to ignore how ICE actually operates.
If you are an educator, director, administrator, or organizational leader, this moment demands your action, not your apathy. Protecting students does not stop at physical injury prevention or their emotional well-being. It includes protection from state violence.
Every organization should be asking itself:
What happens if ICE shows up near our rehearsal site?
Who speaks to officers?
Who does not speak to officers?
What rights do our members have?
What legal resources are available immediately?
If you cannot answer these questions, your organization is vulnerable.
ICE thrives on confusion, isolation, and fear. The antidote is collective preparedness.
This means:
Creating rapid response plans within your organization.
Training staff on how to identify ICE officials and warrants.
Establishing clear communication chains with parents and staff.
Coordinating with other local marching arts organizations when incidents occur.
MAASIN has previously published our I.C.E. Navigation Guide for Drum Corps, a resource guide designed to help organizations understand and respond to potential ICE interactions. While it is geared towards the drum corps season, much of it applies for marching seasons throughout the year, including marching band and winterguard.
This Will Affect All of Us
There is a temptation to believe that if ICE hasn’t affected you yet, it won’t ever. History tells us otherwise. When communities fail to prepare, the most vulnerable pay the price first, but never exclusively. The marching arts are not separate from society, but are embedded in it and are therefore impacted by the same threats that every average American is faced with.
MAASIN will continue to monitor, educate, and mobilize on this issue. We ask you to do the same for you and your organizations: urgently, collectively, and without hesitation.
Karen Daubert
MAASIN Internal Director
👉 Understand how to identify and handle potential interactions with I.C.E. officials this season:
MAASIN’s I.C.E. Navigation Guide for Drum Corps
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/620aa9cbaba73156e37093ae/t/686fe310ad8f8d4c9cda15eb/1752163093063/I.C.E.+Navigation+Guide+for+Drum+Corps.pdf
Karen Daubert (she/her) is the Internal Director at MAASIN and has been involved with the organization since early 2022. Based in Denver, Colorado, Karen is a stay at home parent and menstrual equity activist, formerly a Secondary English Educator. Starting her marching arts journey in 2004, she performed in the marching arts for over 15 years, including the Santa Clara Vanguard (2012-2013) and Opus X Winterguard (2012-2015). Karen joined MAASIN to advocate for the dignity and respect of every marching arts member, and her work centers on challenging abusive teaching environments and enforcing safety and accountability for marching arts educators.