A local activist group claimed the federal deployment of the Memphis Safe Task Force has resulted in increased immigration enforcement, with individuals “snatched up” by federal authorities, who announced on Friday that 150 arrests were made during the first week of their deployment in Memphis.
The co-founder of Vecindarios 901, an activist group with a hotline to report federal immigration enforcement, told NewsChannel 3 on Thursday that the Memphis Safe Task Force prompted, “calls about people that have been snatched up by ICE.”
The group has a hotline to provide support for those who encounter immigration officials, and Vecindarios 901 co-founder Hunter Demster claimed to the outlet, “we’ve seen it first hand, and we have videos and pictures of all of it.”
Demster told NewsChannel 3, “This is part of the task force, since they came into town.”
The group claimed in posts to Instagram that the federal deployment has generated, “a huge increase in undercover patrols,” according to a translation of its Spanish-language post.
It additionally warned followers to that the U.S. Marshals Service was making arrests for outstanding warrants.
“Call us to report if they arrive at your home with an incorrect warrant from someone who doesn’t live in your household,” the group urged.
While activists have repeatedly claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is involved in the task force, the City of Memphis has only confirmed the presence of immigration enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Demster and Maria Oceja created Vecindarios 901 during the first Trump administration. In 2020, Demster was arrested during an organized protest of former Attorney General Bill Barr’s visit to Memphis that year.
The activists apparently began associating with the Democratic Socialists of America in 2019, when the Memphis chapter of the socialist group shared an image of a Vecindarios 901 member speaking at one of its meetings.
Vecindarios 901 speaking at our general meeting pic.twitter.com/DccwKgBHYF
— Memphis-MidSouth DSA (@MemphisDSA) December 11, 2019
Vecindarios 901 similarly participated in a “socially distanced action” alongside Black Lives Matter and another activist group in May 2020, which seemed to urge Memphis officials to release accused criminals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The activists’ claims were reported by the press as Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the total number of arrests made by the Memphis Safe Task Force had risen to 153 on Friday, including 60 arrests made on Thursday.
🚨MEMPHIS SAFE TASK FORCE UPDATE🚨
Last night, 60 arrests were made and 21 illegal firearms were seized.
Arrests include a suspect wanted for rape of a child under 13.
Since Monday, 153 arrests have been made including 5 gang members, 48 guns seized, and 5 missing children… pic.twitter.com/11J5iXXTdj
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) October 3, 2025
“Since Monday, 153 arrests have been made including 5 gang members, 48 guns seized, and 5 missing children recovered,” wrote Bondi on Friday.
The number of arrests on Thursday marked an increase from the 40 arrests announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Vencendarios 901 should have its tax-exempt status revoked, if it is tax-exempt, for hindering ther activities of ICE.