Protests over immigration raids pop up across the US with more planned
[June 11, 2025]
By JIM VERTUNO
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Protests that sprang up in Los Angeles over
immigration enforcement raids and prompted President Donald Trump to
mobilize National Guard troops and Marines have begun to spread across
the country, with more planned into the weekend.
From Seattle and Austin to Chicago and Washington, D.C., marchers have
chanted slogans, carried signs against the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency and snarled traffic through downtown avenues and
outside federal offices. While many have been peaceful, some have
resulted in clashes with law enforcement as officers made arrests and
used chemical irritants to disperse crowds.
Activists are planning more and even larger demonstrations in the coming
days, with “No Kings” events across the country on Saturday to coincide
with Trump’s planned military parade through Washington.
The Trump administration said it would continue its program of raids and
deportations despite the protests.
“ICE will continue to enforce the law,” Homeland Security Secretary
Kristi Noem posted Tuesday on social media.
A look at some protests across the country:
Philadelphia
About 150 protesters gathered outside the Federal Detention Center in
Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon and marched to ICE headquarters for
speeches and then back to the detention center, according to
Philadelphia police.
A group then walked though what police called major roads using bicycles
to obstruct officers, prompting police to issue several orders for
people to disperse. Police said demonstrators ignored the orders and
things escalated when officers started arresting people.
Fifteen people were arrested, one on allegations of aggravated assault
on police, and the rest for disorderly conduct, police said. Several
officers used force during the arrests and their conduct will be
reviewed, police said. Police didn't say specifically what kind of force
was used. Two officers had minor injuries and were treated at a
hospital. Two females who were arrested reported minor injuries and were
receiving medical attention, police said.
About 20 people remained peacefully gathered outside the detention
center as of Tuesday night, police said.
San Francisco
About 200 protesters gathered outside the San Francisco Immigration
Court on Tuesday after activists said several arrests were made there.
That gathering came after protests on Sunday and Monday swelled to
several thousand demonstrators and saw more than 150 arrests with
outbreaks of violence that included vandalized buildings, and damaged
cars, police vehicles and buses. Police said two officers suffered
non-life threatening injuries.
Most of the arrests were Sunday night.
“Individuals are always free to exercise their First Amendment rights in
San Francisco, but violence, especially against SFPD officers, will
never be tolerated,” San Francisco police posted on social media.
Police described Monday's march as “overwhelmingly peaceful,” but said
“two small groups broke off and committed vandalism and other criminal
acts.” Several people were detained or arrested, police said.
Seattle
About 50 people gathered outside the immigration court in downtown
Seattle on Tuesday, chanting with drums and holding up signs that said,
“Free Them All; Abolish ICE” and “No to Deportations.” Protesters began
putting scooters in front of building entryways before police arrived.
Mathieu Chabaud, with Students for a Democratic Society at the
University of Washington, said they were there in solidarity with the
Los Angeles protesters, “and to show that we’re opposed to ICE in our
community.”
Legal advocates who normally attend the immigration court hearings as
observers and to provide support to immigrants were not allowed inside
the building. Security guards also turned away the media. The hearings
are normally open to the public.
New York City
A mass of people rallied in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to
protest deportations and federal immigration policy.
Demonstrators gathered outside two federal buildings that house
immigration courts and began marching amid a heavy police presence.
Some protesters held signs reading “ICE out of New York” and others
chanted, “Why are you in riot gear? I don’t see no riot here.”
New York City police said multiple people were taken into custody. There
were no immediate charges.
Chicago
In Chicago, a small crowd gathered Tuesday outside immigration court in
downtown and called for an end to Trump administration immigration
sweeps and military presence in California.
“With the militarization of Los Angeles it’s time to get out and let
Trump know this is unacceptable,” said retiree Gary Snyderman. “All of
this is so unconstitutional.”
The group then marched through downtown streets drumming and chanting,
“No more deportations! and "Trump must go now.” A woman at one point
drove a car quickly through the street filled with protesters, causing
them to dart out of her way. It was not immediately known whether anyone
had been injured.
The demonstration had grown to at least a thousand protesters by late
Tuesday, remaining relatively peaceful with limited engagement between
the group and police officers.
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Adriana Martinez holds up signs during a rally of union workers and
others for David Huerta, the president of Service Employees
International Union California, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Las Vegas.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Denver
A group of protesters gathered in front of the Colorado state capitol in
Denver on Tuesday, creating a sea of cardboard signs, one exhorting:
“Show your faces. ICE cowards.”
The group, inspired by the Los Angeles protests over the past several
days, split in half, marching down two different thoroughfares and
crowding out traffic.
A large police presence wasn’t seen initially, but a few officers began
blocking a street behind the the marchers.
Santa Ana
In Santa Ana near Los Angeles, armored vehicles blocked the road Tuesday
morning leading into the Civic Center, where federal immigration
officers and numerous city and county agencies have their offices.
Workers swept up plastic bottles and broken glass from Monday's
protests. Tiny shards of red, black and purple glass littered the
pavement. Nearby buildings and the sidewalk were tagged with profane
graffiti slogans against ICE and had Trump’s name crossed out. A worker
rolled paint over graffiti on a wall to block it out.
National Guard officers wearing fatigues and carrying rifles prevented
people from entering the area unless they worked there.
While a small group kept up their demonstration Tuesday, several
counter-protesters showed up. One man wore a red T-shirt and Make
America Great Again cap as he exchanged words with the crowd opposing
the raids.
San Antonio
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed that Texas Gov. Greg
Abbot sent members of the state's National Guard to the city in advance
of protests expected this week, Assistant Chief Jesse Salame told The
Associated Press on Tuesday.
“We don't have any additional details about their deployment,” Salame
said.
Soldiers were “on standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned
in case they are needed,” Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said
Tuesday evening.
Austin
Four Austin police officers were injured and authorities used chemical
irritants to disperse a crowd of several hundred demonstrators Monday
night that moved between the state Capitol and a federal building that
houses an ICE office. State officials had closed the Capitol to the
public an hour early in anticipation of the protest.
Austin police used pepper spray balls and state police used tear gas
when demonstrators began trying to deface the federal building with
spray paint. The demonstrators then started throwing rocks, bottles and
other objects at a police barricade, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis
said. Three officers were injured by “very large” rocks and another was
injured while making an arrest, she said.
Austin police arrested eight people, and state police arrested five
more. Davis said her department is prepared for Saturday’s planned
protest downtown.
“We support peaceful protest,” Davis said. “When that protest turns
violent, when it turns to throwing rocks and bottles ... that will not
be tolerated. Arrests will be made.”
Dallas
A protest that drew hundreds to a rally on a city bridge lasted for
several hours Monday night before Dallas police declared it an “unlawful
assembly” and warned people to leave or face possible arrest.
Dallas police initially posted on social media that officers would not
interfere with a “lawful and peaceful assembly of individuals or groups
expressing their First Amendment rights.” But officers later moved in
and media reported seeing some in the crowd throw objects as officers
used pepper spray and smoke to clear the area. At least one person was
arrested.
“Peaceful protesting is legal,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican,
posted on X. “But once you cross the line, you will be arrested.”
Boston
Hundreds of people gathered in Boston’s City Hall Plaza on Monday to
protest the detainment of union leader David Huerta Friday during
immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Protesters held signs reading “Massachusetts stands with our neighbors
in Los Angeles” and “Protect our immigrant neighbors,” and shouted,
“Come for one, come for all” and “Free David, free them all."
Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California,
was released from federal custody later Monday on $50,000 bond.
“An immigrant doesn’t stand between an American worker and a good job, a
billionaire does,” said Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts
AFL-CIO.
Washington, D.C.
Several unions gathered Monday in Washington to protest the raids and
rally for Huerta’s release, and marched past the Department of Justice
building.
Among the demonstrators was U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from
Washington state.
“Enough of these mass ICE raids that are sweeping up innocent people,"
Jayapal said. “As we see people exercising the constitutional rights to
peacefully use their voices to speak out against this injustice, they
are being met with tear gas and rubber bullets.” ___
Associated Press writers Martha Bellisle in Seattle, Sophia Tareen in
Chicago, Leah Willingham in Boston, Michael Hill in New York, Jesse
Bedayn in Denver and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed.
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