On Tuesday, protests against the Trump administration’s newly intensified immigration raids surged across the United States, with significant gatherings centered in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Omaha, and Seattle. Thousands of demonstrators rallied in New York City’s Foley Square, voicing their opposition to the federal government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protesters brandished signs declaring “ICE out of New York” and chanted, “Why are you in riot gear? I don’t see no riot here.”
Among the passionate demonstrators was Shirley, a 29-year-old protester who condemned the Trump administration for its aggressive targeting of workers, calling it antithetical to the very essence of the nation. Draped in a large Mexican flag, she expressed her frustrations, stating, “I come from immigrant parents, and it’s infuriating to see that this particular government is going into labor fields, taking people from construction sites, into industry, plants, and farms. This is taking away what is the backbone of this country.” She emphasized, “The United States started as an immigrant country, and it’s a nation of immigrants. I’m here for those who can’t be here today.”
Councilmember Shahana Hanif of Brooklyn addressed the large crowd in Foley Square, sharply criticizing both the Trump administration and New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams for their actions against immigrants. “Mayor Adams has made it clear that he doesn’t care about working-class people,” she stated. “He is collaborating with Trump to use tactics that harm our community. He’s complicit.” Hanif also called for New York to remain a sanctuary city and urged for more protections for international students, rallying the crowd with her passionate cries to “Stop the attacks and assaults on our students!”
In Chicago, thousands gathered outside an immigration court before marching through downtown streets, drumming and chanting, “No more deportations!” Tensions rose when a car drove through the crowd, narrowly missing the protesters, as reported by WGN TV News, which captured the incident on video. Meanwhile, in metro Atlanta, hundreds marched along Buford Highway in solidarity with the protests taking place in Los Angeles, as reported by local news outlet 11 Alive.
Omaha also witnessed its share of protests, with participants chanting “Chinga la migra,” a Spanish expression that translates to “F* ICE,” in response to reports of about 80 arrests during a recent immigration raid at a meat-packing plant. In Seattle, a smaller group of around 50 protesters gathered outside the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building to demonstrate their solidarity with the Los Angeles protests. After a rally, these activists took a stand by barricading driveways with e-bikes and e-scooters, aiming to obstruct vehicles from the Department of Homeland Security believed to be transporting detained immigrants.
The protests across the nation reflect a growing discontent with the Trump administration’s immigration policies and practices. As communities come together in solidarity, the calls for humane treatment of immigrants and the preservation of their rights continue to echo in cities from coast to coast. The voices of protesters emphasize that the fight for justice and equality will persist until significant changes are made in the immigration system.
