Washington, June 12, 2025 – As the day started, people in at least 37 cities across the country came out in huge numbers to protest ICE’s immigration raids from earlier this week. Protests broke out in Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Portland, and Chicago and carried on into the afternoon. More crowds are expected to show up over the weekend.
The city of Los Angeles held on to its 8 p.m. curfew after the unrest that started on June 6. To stop things from getting worse, 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were sent to protect federal sites.
ICE has arrested 330 people in Los Angeles. Among them, 113 had past criminal convictions. Federal officials are pushing back. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said rioters are standing up for “these kinds of criminal illegal aliens.”
During the unrest, officials arrested Emiliano Garduno-Galvez, an ICE detainee who was once deported and accused of trying to kill someone by tossing a Molotov cocktail.
- Chicago: A vehicle slammed into people protesting. One of them, a 66-year-old woman, ended up with a broken arm but is expected to get better.
- Portland: Last night, between 60 and 70 people blocked an ICE center with barricades while officers gave them warnings and arrested certain individuals.
- Seattle & Austin: During the protests, demonstrators blocked federal offices and rallied close to the work-site raids. Tear gas was fired and some arrests happened.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said using federal troops goes against the Constitution. He called President Trump a “stone-cold liar” and said sending in the military only makes things worse. He added that “military force won’t restore trust in immigrant communities.”
Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, said these kinds of actions make people scared, and not safe and slammed ICE for causing fear instead of peace. With protests brewing in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has activated the National Guard to help keep order.
In Los Angeles, a protester said, “My parents came here from another country and I just can’t stay silent while these raids happen,” sharing they now regret who they supported before. Today, Kim Kardashian took to X to say “There has to be a BETTER way” and called out the raids and the use of troops in American cities.
Corporations like Home Depot, which saw some of the raids, chose not to comment. Some local firms with fewer workers said they’re worried about how this will hurt their employees.
Numbers & Scale
- People are protesting in 37 cities spread out over 21 states.
- More than 400 arrests were made in L.A., with three people hurt and several buildings damaged. ICE raids led to 330 detentions and 113 of those had criminal histories.
- Federal troops, including the National Guard and Marines, are now stationed across several cities.
The demonstrations highlight big disagreements over how to handle immigration, public safety, and whether the military should be used at home. ICE claims the raids were only to catch criminals, but cities and advocates say the raids scared immigrants and broke sanctuary laws.
Things are heating up legally. California has taken the first step by filing a lawsuit against the federal government for sending troops. According to civil rights groups, if people don’t hold back, this conflict might lead to serious and ongoing trouble in the streets.
Major cities are still under curfew, and protests, including “No Kings” events tied to Trump’s Washington parade, are set for this weekend. Officials have the tough job of keeping things calm without stirring up more anger.
Whether the protests calm down or grow will depend on how federal and city leaders work together, what happens in court, and what policy changes are made. No one’s backing down, and the next few days might play a big role in what immigration enforcement looks like in America.
