The St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition formed in January 2025 to provide a coordinated community response to the increased immigration enforcement activity in our area. The Coalition is made up of non-profit organizations and advocates who engaged in a rigorous and thoughtful approach to educating the St. Louis Metropolitan of their rights before ICE while learning about ICE presence and tactics in the area. This intentional collaboration was made possible by years of organizing, network and a shared commitment to cooperation in the region. The Coalition stands ready to support families who have experienced the arrest of a loved one. In response to anti-immigrant legislation proposed at the federal and state level, the Coalition also aims to support immigrants who wish to report harassment, discrimination, and harm driven by anti-immigrant sentiments.

The Coalition worked hard to build swift capacity to meet community needs, which included launching the Rapid Response Hotline, a volunteer-led phone line designed to support families in crisis. Hotline volunteers provide accompaniment through detention and deportation by explaining rights and processes, helping families locate detained loved ones, coordinating trained volunteer attorneys to provide free case reviews for detained immigrants, supporting families with the telecommunications systems at each jail, making referrals to additional resources/services, and more.

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In Fall 2025, with the anticipated arrival of increased federal law enforcement officers like the National Guard, much of the regional rapid response coordination shifted to the MICA Project, who has been coordinating meetings and organizing throughout the bistate area to strengthen community defense networks. To ensure that all Coalition members could honor and sustain their capacity in light of this, the Coalition reorganized to integrate our efforts into those led by the staff of MICA. At this time, Ashrei became the administrative and infrastructural home for the Rapid Response Hotline.

We are not accepting media requests at this time so that we can prioritize our efforts to better meet the immediate needs of our community.