The 5Ds of Bystander Intervention: A Lifeline for Immigrants and Allies

In the middle of the night, Mahmoud Khalil was taken from his home. His wife, eight months pregnant, watched helplessly as plainclothes agents escorted him away. For hours, no one knew where he was. His lawyer struggled to track him down. His friends and family scrambled for information. By the time he was found in a detention center miles away, it was clear—this wasn’t just an arrest. It was a warning.

His case, like many others, is a stark reminder that immigrants—documented or not—are at risk of being detained and disappeared into the system with little to no recourse. And for bystanders? The choices they make in these moments can mean everything.

Why Bystander Intervention Matters

Bystander intervention training can equip individuals with tools to safely and effectively intervene when they witness harassment or discrimination against immigrants, promoting safer and more inclusive communities. It empowers people to take action, ensuring that those targeted are not left feeling isolated or helpless.

 

Key Concepts of Bystander Intervention

  • Empowerment: Training gives individuals the confidence to recognize and respond to situations where immigrants are being targeted, fostering a collective responsibility for a safe environment.
  • Safety First: Interventions should always prioritize the well-being of both the person being harassed and the bystander, using de-escalation and non-violent strategies.
  • Recognizing Bias and Harassment: Participants learn to identify harassment, microaggressions, and hate speech and understand their impact on immigrant communities.
  • Creating Safe Spaces: Intervention helps cultivate communities where immigrants feel welcome and valued, regardless of their immigration status.

The 5Ds of Bystander Intervention

Bystander intervention is often structured around the 5Ds: Direct, Delegate, Delay, Distract, and Document. These five approaches provide multiple ways for people to intervene based on their comfort level and the situation’s urgency.

1. Direct: Speak Up, But Be Smart About It

Sometimes, the most effective way to intervene is also the simplest: say something. Direct intervention means calling out the harassment as it happens.

  • If someone is being harassed for speaking Spanish in a store, you can say, “There’s nothing wrong with speaking another language. Let them shop in peace.”
  • If an ICE officer approaches someone and starts asking questions, remind the person: “You don’t have to answer that. You have the right to remain silent.”

The key? Keep it short, clear, and firm—no debates, no arguments. The goal is to disrupt the harassment, not escalate it.

2. Delegate: Call in Reinforcements

Maybe you’re not in a position to intervene directly—maybe the harasser is aggressive, or maybe you don’t feel safe. That’s okay. You can still help by getting someone else involved.

  • Find an authority figure. In a store, talk to an employee or manager. On public transit, alert the driver. At work, call security or HR. In a house of worship, find the leaders.
  • Signal to another bystander. Look around and ask, “Did you see that? Let’s do something.” There’s strength in numbers.
  • If ICE is involved, notify an immigrant rights organization. Here are some key hotlines in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area:
    • Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid – (202) 335-1183 (Report ICE raids or activity in the DMV; no legal advice provided.)
    • CASA de Maryland – 1-888-214-6016 (Report ICE activities and raids via CASA’s Tip Hotline.)
    • Immigration Rapid Response Hotline (Virginia) – (855) AYU-DAR1 or (855) 298-3271

If the person is being detained, encourage them to share a phone number of someone they trust—a lawyer, family member, or friend—who can be contacted immediately. If they don’t have a number memorized, ask if they have a loved one in the area who should be informed.

  • If possible, discreetly take note of their full name, date of birth, and/or any other identifying details to share with legal aid groups or the above mentioned hotlines.
  • Inform community organizations and advocacy groups that specialize in supporting detained immigrants.
  • If you believe the person detaining them is not an ICE officer, call 911 immediately. It’s possible they are being unlawfully detained by someone impersonating law enforcement.
  • Do not share information about the detained person publicly (such as social media) without their consent, as it could put them at further risk.

3. Delay: Support the Person Afterwards

Sometimes, by the time you notice an incident, it’s already over. That doesn’t mean your role as an ally ends there. Check in on the person who was targeted.

  • “Hey, I saw what happened. Are you okay?”
  • “Do you want me to walk with you?”
  • “If you need to report this, I can help.”

For immigrants—especially those without legal status—harassment and ICE encounters can be terrifying. Just knowing someone saw, cared, and is there to help can make all the difference.

4. Distract: Change the Subject, Shift the Focus

Sometimes, the best way to shut down harassment is to make it awkward. Distraction works by derailing the situation without directly confronting the aggressor.

  • Pretend you know the person being harassed. Walk up and say, “Hey! I haven’t seen you in forever! How’s your mom?”
  • Create a scene. Drop your coffee, fumble with your bag—but be mindful not to appear as though you are reaching for a weapon.
  • Engage the target in conversation. Ignore the harasser entirely. “Excuse me, do you know where the nearest post office is?”

It’s subtle, it’s effective, and it works especially well if you’re unsure about direct intervention.

5. Document: Record, But Be Responsible

If the situation is escalating and someone else is already helping, your phone can be a powerful tool. Recording harassment or ICE encounters can provide evidence—but only if it’s done safely and ethically.

  • First, check if someone is assisting the person being harassed. If no one is, focus on helping them first.
  • Film openly, annouce it, and capture key details—faces, badges, timestamps, locations.
    • Do not obstruct officers.
  • Ask the person who was harassed what they want to do with the footage. Never post it online without their consent; it could put them in danger.

If You Witness a Hate Crime

Hate crimes and bias incidents are on the rise. If you witness or are a victim of a hate crime, report it immediately to local law enforcement.

For additional support, contact the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Hotline:

📞 1-866-481-8361
📧 stophate@oag.state.md.us
🌐 nohomeforhate.md.gov

Local Law Enforcement:

  • Howard County Police (non-emergency): (410) 313-2200
  • For emergencies, call 911.

Bystanders Have Power—Use It

We all hope we’d step up in the face of injustice. But hope isn’t enough. Preparation is what turns good intentions into action.

So next time you see something, you’ll know what to do. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be the reason someone walks away feeling a little more seen, a little more protected, and a whole lot less alone.