los Angeles Protests erupt Over ICE Role, trump’s Parade Plans
Demonstrations are planned nationwide this weekend to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and President Trump’s planned military parade. Los Angeles is expected to be a central location for these protests.
Recent ICE raids in Los Angeles, targeting churches, graduations, and other public spaces, have sparked outrage. Salvador G. Sarmiento, campaign director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, described the ICE agents’ equipment as resembling “a GI Joe movie.” He said the agents appear to be “driving around willy-nilly… dressed up as a goon squad.”
Jonah Valdez, a reporter, added that the federal government is “violently taking people from their work sites in military fashion.”
The protests follow a statement from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller,who touted the administration’s goal of 3,000 ICE arrests per day.Federal agents later targeted day laborers and raided a clothing manufacturer.
Sarmiento believes that Los Angeles’ diverse, working-class population is a target for officials like Miller and Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar. “If anything triggers Stephen Miller more than the city of Los Angeles itself, it’s undocumented workers that are visible on a street corner,” sarmiento said.
Videos of heavily armed agents and armored vehicles have fueled both fear and resistance, leading to widespread protests. Law enforcement responded to protests with “less-lethal” munitions. Valdez reported that several protesters sustained injuries, with one facing potential long-term nerve damage.
Sarmiento emphasized the importance of community solidarity. “people [have to] continue showing up as there’s no politician… that’s going to come save the day,” he said. “It’s the people… that we’re all counting on.”
What’s next
As protests continue, participants are urged to know their constitutional rights and safety options. Attorney Isabella Salomão Nascimento is providing guidance on these matters.
