Volunteer Guide

Volunteer Guide

Welcome to the Volunteer Guide for the ICE List Wiki. This project documents incidents, agents, facilities, vehicles, and related material connected to immigration enforcement activity in the United States. The accuracy and usefulness of this resource depends on committed volunteers who help gather information, write pages, improve verification levels, and strengthen the database.

This guide is both a public overview and a practical handbook for approved contributors working inside the system.

1. How the Wiki Works

The ICE List is structured into several page types:

• Incidents
• Agents
• Vehicles
• Facilities
• Category:287(g)_Agreements
• State indexes
• County indexes
• Glossaries and methodology pages

All edits are reviewed and approved by an administrator before they go live.

Verification Levels

• Verified — Supported by strong, reliable evidence with clear sourcing.
• Partially Verified — Some supporting evidence exists but additional confirmation is needed.
• Unverified — Reported but lacking supporting documentation.

Volunteers help upgrade verification status by locating documentation, screenshots, court records, local news, or official statements.

2. Volunteer Roles

Volunteers may work in one or more of the following areas:

• Incident Writers — Summarize and structure information about incidents.
• Agent Profile Writers — Build accurate profiles of agents, including unnamed agents using screenshots.
• Facility & Vehicle Page Builders — Add and maintain infrastructure-related pages.
• Verification Team — Strengthen sourcing and review claims.
• OSINT Team — Analyse videos, extract screenshots, identify agents, read plates.
• FOIA Team — Submit and track FOIA requests.
• Data Entry Team — Assist with bulk uploads or structured data additions.
• Moderators — Pre-review edits and flag issues.
• Researchers — Gather background information on incidents, courts, statistics.
• Social Media Watch — Monitor platforms for new incidents and leads.

Volunteers take initiative and choose the areas that match their strengths. Tasks will be available continuously as the database grows.

3. Working With Initiative

Contributors may pick tasks themselves. Typical starting points:

• Browse categories such as Category:Incidents, Category:Agents, Category:Vehicles.
• Look for redlinks that need creation.
• Improve existing pages that have missing data.
• Strengthen weak or incomplete citations.
• Add screenshots of unnamed agents where appropriate.

If you're unsure whether to proceed, leave a note on the talk page or message an administrator.

4. Style, Accuracy, and Naming Rules

The project follows strict accuracy standards:

• No speculation of any kind.
• Every fact must be sourced.
• All pages must use consistent naming conventions.
• If unsure, mirror the structure of the most complete pages.
• Avoid narrative language or commentary.
• Remain neutral in description.
• Never publish private information that is not already public.

Checklist Before Submitting

• Is the information sourced?
• Are all statements factual, not speculative?
• Are categories shown using tags if needed? * Are dates formatted consistently? * Are names spelled correctly? * Are external links functional? * Does the page follow the standard structure? == 5. Your First Edit: A Step-by-Step Guide == '''1. Choose a task''' Browse existing categories (e.g., <nowiki>Category:Incidents) to find a page needing work.

2. Open the editor Use VisualEditor or source mode.

3. Add or improve content Follow style rules. Include citations for every fact.

4. Save your work for review Your edit goes into the pending queue.

5. Check back later Admins will approve, clarify, or guide.

6. Screenshot & OSINT Guide (Unnamed Agent Pages)

Some volunteers work specifically on identifying or documenting agents via screenshots from videos.

When to Capture Screenshots

• When an agent appears in a video and is not yet catalogued.
• When multiple angles or frames help establish visual consistency.
• When uniforms, vehicles, or context assist identification.

How to Capture

• Use the highest resolution available.
• Avoid adding marks, shapes, or edits.
• Crop only the relevant portion of the frame.

Labeling Unnamed Agents

Use descriptive labels such as:

• "Unnamed Agent (Chicago Airport Incident, 2024)"
• "Unnamed Agent (Texas Traffic Stop, May 2023)"

Screenshots must avoid including unrelated individuals or private addresses whenever possible.

7. Verification System

Verified

• Supported by documents, video, strong reporting, or official statements.

Partially Verified

• Some evidence exists, but important details need confirmation.

Unverified

• Information is uncorroborated.

Volunteers help upgrade verification status by locating sources, documents, or supporting media.

8. Code of Conduct

All volunteers must follow:

• Respect all contributors.
• No harassment or targeted behaviour.
• Neutral, factual writing only.
• No speculation.
• No political commentary within article text.
• Use secure channels for sensitive information.
• Follow admin instructions.
• Violations may result in removal.

9. Getting Support

If you need help:

• Leave a message on a talk page.
• Contact an administrator.
• Flag pages needing review.
• Request additional categories or structural tools.

Questions are always welcome, especially on verification and sensitive cases.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need permission to start contributing? A: Yes. Volunteers must be approved first.

Q: Can I work in several roles? A: Yes.

Q: What if I'm unsure whether something is appropriate? A: Ask an administrator.

Q: What if two sources conflict? A: Present both neutrally and wait for guidance.

Q: Can I suggest improvements? A: Absolutely.

Q: Are edits anonymous? A: Your username is visible, no personal details required.

Q: How do I find tasks? A: Browse categories such as Category:Incidents or find redlinks that need creation.

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Thank you for contributing to the ICE List Wiki. Your work strengthens transparency, documentation, and accountability.