Following days of unrest in Los Angeles, anti-ICE demonstrations are set to spread nationwide with around 30 new protests planned in response to recent immigration raids by the Trump Administration. Additional protests have erupted in various cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento, Houston, San Antonio, Chicago, and New York, showing solidarity with the Los Angeles demonstrators. The backlash against the Administration’s immigration enforcement tactics and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles is becoming more pronounced, with demonstrations organized in major cities across the country.
The protests were triggered by workplace immigration raids last week and intensified after the arrest of David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of California, during a demonstration in Los Angeles. Huerta’s arrest, deemed as interference with a federal operation, has spurred organized labor to announce nationwide demonstrations in his defense. The protests in Los Angeles have escalated in size and intensity, with clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement resulting in the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.
President Trump has criticized the protesters as “insurrectionists” and “professional agitators” deserving of jail time. The SEIU has planned anti-ICE demonstrations in various cities, emphasizing the demand for safety, respect, and the release of David. While the focal point remains Los Angeles, where National Guard presence persists, demonstrations are expected in numerous cities across the United States, reflecting a growing opposition to the Administration’s immigration policies.
