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2025 United States protests against mass deportation
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Several protests and riots broke out against United States president Donald Trump's mass deportation of immigrants following the start of his second presidential term on January 20, 2025. Large-scale protests have occurred in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
 | Parts of this article (those related to Protests) need to be updated. The reason given is: June 2025 protests. (June 2025) |
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Background
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On January 23, 2025, 3 days after returning to office in the second presidential inauguration, United States President Donald Trump implemented several campaign promises regarding stricter immigration enforcement, leading to an uptick in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across major metropolitan areas.
That same day, the DHS authorized federal law enforcement personnel from numerous federal agencies to assist in carrying out Trump immigration policies. A memo from acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman provided "the functions of an immigration officer" to several law enforcement agencies within the Justice Department, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The memo, addressed to acting attorney general James McHenry, noted that FBI agents have a role for arrests related to immigration, known as Title 8 authority; this authority was now conferred onto other agencies.[4]
On January 23, high-profile ICE raids occurred in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Miami, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., detaining 538 illegal immigrants. The mayor of Newark claimed that ICE raided a local establishment, detaining illegal immigrants as well as citizens, including a veteran, without a warrant.[5][6][7] The White House said that "The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals, including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors."[8]
On January 29, Trump ordered the preparation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to house tens of thousands of migrants.[9]
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Protests
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Alabama
On January 29, an anti-mass deportation public demonstration took place in downtown Albertville. Many demonstrators chanted bilingual slogans such as "nobody is illegal on stolen land". Representative Robert Aderholt, whose congressional district includes Albertville, characterized the demonstration as "deeply concerning".[10] Albertville is one of Alabama's most Hispanic cities with roughly a third of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census.[11]
California
February
On February 2, a large anti-mass deportation protest began at Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The event was organized in response to increased immigration enforcement activities by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Participants gradually amassed into a crowd of several thousand as the protest progressed, with many carrying Mexican flags and banners with pro-immigration messages such as "Nobody is illegal" and "Viva Mexico". Demonstrators marched to and temporarily occupied portions of the Hollywood Freeway, leading to traffic disruptions in the downtown area. By approximately 4:00 PM PST, the LAPD Central Division confirmed that demonstrators voluntarily vacated the freeway and reassembled at City Hall. No arrests were reported.[12]
On the same date, an anti-mass deportation protest was held in San Diego, which attracted more than a thousand participants. The demonstration began at the San Diego Convention Center and proceeded through the Gaslamp Quarter to the "Coming Together" sculpture at Park Boulevard. The sculpture was symbolically chosen for its representation of unity.[13]
On February 7, multiple high schools across Los Angeles staged walkouts and congregated at City Hall.[14] A simultaneous walkout protest in Pasadena occurred.[citation needed]
June
On June 6, protests began in Los Angeles following ICE arrests of at least 45 people.[15][16][17] On June 7, as the protests turned into street riots, Trump announced that the National Guard would be deployed to quell them, authorising two thousand troops.[18][19][20]
On June 9, protests expanded to Santa Ana after reported raids throughout Orange County including Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.[21] The president authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members and the Pentagon activated 700 Marines to deploy to the city, who arrived the next day.
On July 8, an ICE car ran over protestors in downtown San Francisco, injuring at least 1.[22]
Colorado
On January 25, a march in Aurora was organized by the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition in protest against ICE raids.[23] Over 2,000 protesters[24] came out to support the cause and rally outside the state capitol building. This protest follows a series of intense ICE raids targeting neighborhoods and residential areas. There are also several volunteers,[25] like those from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, that offer resources, such as legal services and literature on legal rights, to those at risk.
Georgia
On February 1, around 1,000 protestors gathered on Buford Highway in metro Atlanta, blocking the roadway before being contained by Georgia State Patrol and Chamblee Police Department officers.[26]
Illinois
On January 25, a demonstration began at Water Tower Place in downtown Chicago, featuring multiple social justice speakers before participants marched to Trump Tower. The demonstration was originally scheduled for President Trump's second inauguration on January 20, but was postponed due to severe weather conditions. Over 60 advocacy organizations were involved in the march.[5]
Indiana
On January 30, a public demonstration was held in front of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis in direct response to Governor of Indiana Mike Braun's executive order signed on January 28 mandating full state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement policies. The demonstration had been organized by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.) Indiana, drawing dozens of protesters.[27]
Iowa
On June 10, hundreds of people gathered in Des Moines, specifically in the Iowa State Capitol, to show solidarity with immigrants.[28][29] There were also protests in at least 30 other municipalities in the state, including the cities of Waterloo, Davenport and Fort Dodge.[29]
Massachusetts
On June 9 and June 10, two separate demonstrations against the administration's deportation policies and response to the protests in Los Angeles were held in Boston. The first demonstration was held on Monday outside the Boston City Hall, and the second was held on Tuesday outside the Massachusetts State House. Officers from the Boston Police Department removed protestors who blocked Beacon Street, directly adjacent to the State House. Hundreds participated in both protests.[30][31]
Michigan
On February 5, as part of a nationwide movement dubbed the 50501 movement, around 500 people gathered in Lansing, Michigan's state capitol. Speakers criticized Trump's stance on Gaza and DEI, alongside his deportation efforts.[32]
Minnesota
On June 3, the FBI and DHS sent personnel to a local Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis. Federal personnel were armed and in military uniform. Photos of the officials quickly went viral online in both 50501 movement and leftist communities which quickly lead to a street protest against the agents. After being pressured by the crowd, the situation escalated to physical altercations between protesters and federal personnel.[33]
Missouri
Kansas City
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Crossroads district on June 10 in support of immigrants as part of a "Shut Down ICE KC" protest.[34][35][36]
St. Louis
On February 1, a significant public demonstration took place in downtown St. Louis. The event drew approximately 1,000 participants who gathered to protest the Trump administration's enhanced deportation efforts in the metro area, with many playing drums, chanting, and conducting organized calls through bullhorns. The demonstration took place two days after ICE agents raided a Mexican restaurant in O'Fallon, where three workers were temporarily detained before being released when agents determined they had no criminal records.[37]
50501 Missouri staged a "No ICE" protest at the Tamm Ave Overpass on June 11 following the June 2025 Los Angeles protests. Another protest organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation St. Louis, Voices for Palestine Network, Ecosocialist Green Party, and Black Men Build St. Louis was held the same day in Downtown St. Louis.[38][39]
New Jersey
A protest occurred on March 1 at the Trenton WWII Monument, following the announcement of an ICE center opening in Newark.[40]
New York
On June 9 and 10, anti-ICE protests took place in New York City. On June 9, a sit-in protest at Trump Tower resulted in 24 arrests on charges of illegal trespassing. The following day, peaceful protests outside the federal immigration court turned violent as bottles were thrown at NYPD officers and cones were thrown on the street, resulting in 86 arrests.[41]
Pennsylvania
On February 5, protesters gathered in downtown Philadelphia, and marched on city hall.[42]
South Carolina
On January 29, a public demonstration was held at Marion Square in downtown Charleston. Attendance quickly exceeded Charleston municipal law's 25-person threshold for un-permitted gatherings, with police reports indicating over 30 people present at the start. Within an hour, law enforcement estimated the total number of protesters had grown to more than 100 people spread across downtown Charleston. After demanding that the protesters disperse, officers began arresting protesters, detaining seven in total and holding them at Al Cannon Detention Center with $465 bonds.[43]
Texas
On January 26, concurrent public demonstrations drawing hundreds of protesters were held in Dallas and Fort Worth, during Trump's first week in office.[4]
On February 1, a demonstration organized by the Austin branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation was held to protest the construction of a facility in Pflugerville that was believed to be a future ICE operations center. The protest drew dozens of participants demanding transparency from both federal and local officials regarding the facility's purpose and approval process.[44]
In June, several hundred protesters gathered in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.[45][46] Over a dozen protesters were arrested in Austin.[46]
Washington
In Washington state, there is a long history of protests and resistance against ICE and border patrol. Regular protests at the Federal Office Building immigration court were ongoing in 2025.[47] A protest on June 10, initiated by Students for a Democratic Society, gained significant attendance[48][49] in solidarity with the protests against ICE in Los Angeles. All 4 entrances to the federal building were blocked in an attempt to stop ICE officials from taking arrestees to the Northwest Detention Center.[50] Later in June, Videos surfaced showing suspected undocumented people being arrested roughly in hallways and elevators by masked ICE officials at pre-scheduled immigration hearings in the Federal Building. This resulted in further self-organized protests and actions in support of people going to immigration court in the federal building.[51]
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References
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