The Untold Story Of People Over Papers (Anonymous/Anónimo): 5 Key Facts About The ICE Tracking Movement

The "People Over Papers (Anonymous/Anónimo)" movement has become one of the most significant, yet often misunderstood, grassroots efforts in the modern immigrant rights landscape. As of December 2025, this volunteer-run initiative continues to evolve, using digital crowdsourcing to provide real-time community defense against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. The philosophy is simple: the safety of individuals—"people"—must always take precedence over bureaucratic documentation—"papers."

The initial project gained massive traction before facing censorship, forcing its anonymous creators to innovate and relaunch. This article dives deep into the origins, the key anonymous figures, the controversy, and the current state of the technology powering this crucial community safety alert system.

The Anonymous Founders: Kat & Celeste and the Power of Pseudonyms

The entire premise of "People Over Papers" is built on the concept of anonymous/anónimo operation, a necessity for a project that actively tracks a powerful federal agency like ICE. While the movement itself is anonymous, details have emerged about the two primary figures who founded the initiative, known only by their pseudonyms: Kat and Celeste.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

• Names/Pseudonyms: Kat and Celeste. Celeste requested her last name remain private for security reasons.
• Origin Story: The project began after Celeste, a Latina influencer, posted a video on TikTok discussing local ICE activity. The post went viral, demonstrating a massive, unmet need for real-time information within immigrant communities.
• Roles: Kat is often described as the tech-savvy co-founder, providing the technical expertise to build and manage the mapping tool. Celeste provides the social momentum and community engagement, leveraging her background in IT while juggling a full-time job.
• Structure: The core team is a volunteer-run network, estimated to be around 50 dedicated volunteers who collect, vet, and map the crowdsourced data.
• Philosophy: Their use of pseudonyms and the crowdsourcing model directly embody the movement's core value: a focus on collective action and community defense rather than individual recognition or formal organizational structure.

The Original Mission: Why "People Over Papers" Was Created

The core purpose of the "People Over Papers" initiative was to create a digital lifeline. It emerged as a direct response to a perceived lack of transparency and the aggressive tactics used during ICE raids and community arrests. The founders' goal was to harness the power of crowdsourcing to generate a live map of confirmed ICE activity, offering a crucial safety buffer for undocumented immigrants and their families.

The initiative was designed as a community safety alert system. Users, acting as anonymous users or "spotters," would submit sightings of unmarked vehicles, agents, or activity that suggested an impending deportation operation. The volunteer team would then vet the reports before adding them to the interactive map.

This approach was a form of counter-mapping, turning the tables on surveillance by using readily available digital tools to track the movements of the enforcement agency itself. The original map, hosted on the digital platform Padlet, quickly saw millions of unique visitors, highlighting its immediate and critical relevance.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The Padlet Takedown and the Evolution to iceout.org

The success and visibility of the original "People Over Papers" map inevitably led to controversy and, ultimately, censorship. The movement was criticized by some political figures who argued that the map was obstructing law enforcement and providing a roadmap for individuals to evade the law. This pressure led to the map's most significant challenge.

The Digital Censorship Event

In a move that sparked outrage among immigrant rights advocates, the digital platform Padlet disabled the "People Over Papers" map without warning. This takedown was a clear example of digital censorship impacting a grassroots movement. However, the anonymous team behind the project, led by Kat and Celeste, had anticipated this possibility.

The Launch of the New Platform

The team had been working on a more robust, independent solution for months. The original domain name was quickly rerouted, and the project found its new, permanent home. The replacement website, which carries on the mission and philosophy of "People Over Papers (anonymous/anónimo)," is iceout.org. This transition was a pivotal moment, demonstrating the resilience of the Migrant Digital Justice movement and its commitment to utilizing technology for immigrant rights.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

The new platform, along with similar, related projects like icemap.dev, continues to provide the same essential service: a live crowdsourced map of ICE activity. This ecosystem of tools is a testament to the enduring need for real-time information in vulnerable communities.

The Broader Ecosystem of ICE Tracking and Community Defense

The "People Over Papers" initiative is not an isolated effort but a prominent part of a wider network of organizations and technological tools focused on immigrant rights advocacy and community safety. This network focuses on the principle that informed communities are safer communities.

Key Organizations and Entities

The work of "People Over Papers" aligns closely with established advocacy groups that also focus on tracking and challenging enforcement practices:

• Immigrant Defense Project (IDP): Known for tracking ICE raids and arrests, and training community members on their rights.
• Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN): A regional group committed to responding to raids and ICE activity.
• Immigration Advocates Network (IAN): Develops digital tools and offers Tactical Technology Training to advance immigrants' rights.
• Justicia Lab AI: A non-profit AI lab working to harness new technologies to advance immigrant advocacy.

Related Technology and Apps

The success of the crowdsourced map has inspired or coincided with other technological tools aimed at community defense, all of which share the "People Over Papers" ethos:

• SignalSafe: An app that allows users to drop a pin to report ICE movements.
• ICEBlock: An app that allows users to report ICE sightings, particularly in Southern California.
• iceinmyarea.org: Another community safety alert system and anonymous community-driven tool to report and track ICE activity.

These tools collectively represent a new frontier in digital activism, where decentralized, volunteer-run efforts use modern technology to mitigate the impact of government enforcement operations. The core message remains consistent: providing accurate, timely information to protect individuals from deportation and ensure their constitutional rights are upheld.

The Enduring Philosophy: People Over Papers

The phrase "People Over Papers (anonymous/anónimo)" is more than just a project name; it is a concise manifesto for the modern immigrant rights movement. It asserts a fundamental humanitarian principle: the value of a human life and their well-being should always supersede the administrative status dictated by documents or bureaucracy.

The anonymity of its founders and contributors is a strategic choice, ensuring the focus remains on the mission and the community it serves, rather than the individuals behind the keyboard. This decentralized model is inherently resilient, as demonstrated by the rapid transition from the Padlet-hosted map to the independent iceout.org platform. By prioritizing the collection of data on sightings and providing that information back to the community, the movement empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their safety and movements, thereby fostering a stronger, more resilient immigrant community in the face of ongoing enforcement challenges.

The legacy of "People Over Papers" is the successful deployment of crowdsourcing as a powerful tool for social justice, proving that a small, dedicated, and anonymous team can create a vital lifeline for millions.