Imagine being targeted and harassed simply for who you are, even within the seemingly safe space of a video game. That's the reality activists are fighting against, using games like 'Fortnite' and 'Grand Theft Auto' to combat the reach and influence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). This is not just about pixels and play; it's about real-world rights and challenging narratives.
Take SteveTheGamer55, for example. He was streaming a GTA 5 role-playing session to his massive YouTube audience of 4.6 million when things took an unexpected turn. Steve, playing a character on a work visa, was suddenly confronted by in-game ICE agents who swarmed his character's vehicle right there on the virtual sidewalk. "Stop right there," barked one of the uniformed players, recreating a scene all too familiar in real life. Bystander players, witnessing the virtual arrest, began to protest, demanding the character's release and questioning the agents' authority. Eventually, after a tense exchange, SteveTheGamer55's character was let go. Later in the session, the gamer found himself in front of a large iron gate resembling those of ICE detention centers, recording agents as a player in a red suit demanded a warrant.
This wasn't just random gameplay; it was a carefully planned "special event" organized by New Save Collective, a group of a dozen gamers with backgrounds in activism and community organizing. Their mission? To educate gamers and the wider public about their rights when encountering ICE, both in the virtual world and the real one. And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about protesting; it's about education and empowerment. Following the GTA 5 event, New Save Collective hosted a scavenger hunt within Fortnite, offering a more casual and accessible way to learn about these critical issues. They are also actively collaborating with immigration advocacy groups and content creators to amplify their message across various online platforms.
But here's where it gets controversial... Online gaming spaces have increasingly become breeding grounds for right-wing ideologies, and even extremist viewpoints. The U.S. military, for instance, has openly used games as a recruitment tool, targeting young and impressionable players. Immigration authorities are also attempting to leverage the popularity of gaming. Remember when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mimicked marketing campaigns for the Halo series, tweeting "Finishing this fight" alongside an image referencing the game's alien antagonists, "The Flood"? Or when they riffed on Pokémon's iconic "Gotta catch 'em all" slogan with a video of ICE agents arresting people?
A DHS spokesperson defended these actions, stating that the agency aims to "reach people where they are with content they can relate to and understand." However, New Save Collective’s approach stands in stark contrast to groups like Gamergate, which were known for their harassment, hatred, and exclusion. Instead, New Save Collective is focused on building a community rooted in kindness, authenticity, and a shared desire to do good.
According to PitaBreadFace, an organizer with New Save Collective, most of the members are immigrants, children of immigrants, or children of refugees. (The organizer requested anonymity for safety reasons.) PitaBreadFace emphasized the importance of creating a sense of belonging and mobilizing people towards a common purpose, especially given the current political climate. Having observed how the right wing has successfully used gaming platforms to spread their messages, PitaBreadFace believes it's crucial to build counter-narratives and mobilize the changing demographics of gaming culture.
Games like Roblox have already seen pro-Palestine rallies and anti-ICE demonstrations. New Save Collective sees Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto as valuable tools for carrying out their educational events. Anosh Polticoal, another organizer who also requested to be referred to by screenname for safety reasons, pointed out that some GTA role-players are actually police officers or lawyers in real life. This adds another layer of realism and relevance to the simulations.
"For a gaming stream that's educating the public in a world where many people may not have seen an interaction with ICE yet, [it’s] a way to get folks to know or get used to what that might look like," Anosh Polticoal explained. "What their rights are as bystanders, as citizens, as non-citizens, as folks who are documented, undocumented. It felt like a really great way to see all that play out for an audience." The Fortnite event, for example, offered gamers a platform to learn about community building and how to combat xenophobia online. However, even before the event, organizers had to deal with individuals posing as ICE agents spreading misinformation and pro-ICE propaganda within their online communities.
Anosh Polticoal also noted that games like Halo often promote themes of "protecting the homeland," which ICE has exploited to reach an audience already engaged in similar narratives. New Save Collective aims to counter this by ensuring that their message reaches those same spaces, emphasizing that even if someone isn't an immigrant, chances are someone in their life is.
New Save Collective is also collaborating with Define American, an organization dedicated to changing the portrayal of immigrants in media. Shauna Siggelkow, vice president of programs for Define American, views the focus on games as integral to their mission. "In order for politics to change around immigration, we first need to change the public discourse," Siggelkow stated. "Not just immigrants, but citizens, whatever your status is—it's really important that we all understand our rights and practice those rights when we're confronted by ICE."
New Save Collective plans to continue organizing gamers and hosting future events. The fight for these online communities is far from over. "Gaming wasn't kind of a random genre that we chose," Siggelkow emphasized. "We've been tracking anti-immigrant myths and disinformation digitally for years. We really grounded this campaign in a lot of data and research. This really is a space that is critical for immigration narrative."
So, what do you think? Can video games be an effective tool for social activism and education? Is it appropriate for organizations like ICE to use gaming platforms for recruitment and propaganda? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
