Following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles that led to more than 40 arrests, large protests broke out across the United States.
The raids, which happened in several places, including the Fashion District and a Home Depot parking lot, caused tensions that grew worse over the weekend. In Los Angeles, the protests started peacefully but became more intense, leading to fights between protesters and police.
President Trump reacted to the unrest by sending thousands of National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles. This decision was strongly criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it reckless and disrespectful. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared her worries about the fear spreading among the city’s residents and asked for the raids to stop, pointing out how many immigrants live in Los Angeles.
The protests grew even stronger after David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union of California (SEIU), was arrested during the Los Angeles raids. According to Newseek, his release later brought relief to many, but it did not slow down the protest movement. Organizers announced more demonstrations to keep pushing lawmakers for change. A nationwide protest is expected to happen in all 50 states on June 14, which is President Trump’s birthday, showing that opposition to the administration’s immigration policies is still strong and growing.
More states rising against ICE raids
Trump stood by his decision, saying that without the military presence, Los Angeles would have been destroyed. The events in Los Angeles sparked protests in many other cities across the country. Demonstrations took place in major cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Tampa, San Francisco, and Austin. In New York City, at least 20 people were arrested during a protest at Trump Tower organized by the group Rise and Resist, which focused on the deportation of migrants to El Salvador.
Protesters stopped traffic on a major highway and damaged property while law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades to control the crowd. Thousands of people joined a peaceful gathering at City Hall, while others demonstrated outside a federal building that held a detention center. ICE officials denied any wrongdoing.
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 29, 2025
#BREAKING: Anti-ICE protestors are being PEPPER SPRAYED as they fight with police in NYC
They’re attempting to block access of vans carrying ILLEGALS from entering the facility
LOCK THEM ALL UP! STOP PLAYING GAMES! pic.twitter.com/65bepkUX2e
In Austin, Texas, police used tear gas and pepper spray to break up protests, leading to several arrests. In Chicago, protesters gathered in Daley Plaza and outside the Chicago Police Department headquarters, accusing the police of working with ICE. In Dallas, police fired pepper balls to stop a protest, resulting in more arrests. Similar protests, some larger and more intense than others, happened in Tampa, San Francisco, and Boston, showing nationwide anger over ICE’s actions and the government’s immigration policies.
The protests revealed deep disagreements about U.S. immigration policies and how they affect communities across the country. Protesters called for major changes to immigration laws and for ICE to be shut down, arguing that its enforcement methods are too harsh and unfairly target vulnerable groups. The demonstrations also brought attention to the bigger conflict between the federal government and local leaders over immigration enforcement, which has gotten worse under the Trump administration.
