Protests are escalating across the United States in response to the federal immigration enforcement raids and President Donald Trump’s recent decision to mobilize troops including the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. These protests are anticipated to persist into the approaching weekend.
While the majority of the demonstrations opposing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have proceeded peacefully, characterized by marchers chanting slogans and waving signs, several have erupted into violent encounters with law enforcement. This unrest has led to numerous arrests, with police employing chemical agents for crowd control. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced the deployment of an unspecified number of National Guard troops across the state to maintain peace and order.
Activist groups are organizing further national rallies over the coming days, with a series of large-scale “No Kings” events planned for Saturday, set to coincide with President Trump’s proposed military parade in Washington, D.C. Despite mounting dissent, the Trump administration remains adamant that immigration raids and deportations will continue unabated.
In Seattle, protesters gathered en masse Wednesday evening, targeting a federal building where immigration proceedings take place. The event saw the setting of a nearby dumpster on fire and left the building marred with graffiti, the words “Abolish ICE Now” emblazoned across its front. Demonstrators used electric bikes and cones to bar entry to the building, and confrontations ensued between officers and protesters, some of whom launched fireworks and rocks. Police utilized pepper spray to disperse the gathering.
In New York City, more than 80 individuals were detained following the protests in Foley Square. The event drew around 2,500 participants, who rallied with calls for “ICE out of NYC” while occupying spaces near an ICE facility and federal courthouses. Protesters clashed with police, breaching barricades and engaging in confrontations captured in videos that showed items being thrown at law enforcement vehicles. While most of the demonstrators remained nonviolent, a minority’s disruptive actions necessitated police intervention according to Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
San Antonio witnessed a gathering of over 400 protestants outside city hall on Wednesday evening. While the demonstration was largely peaceful, nearby streets were closed off, and law enforcement maintained a distant watch. Some demonstrators had walked from the Alamo mission area, which police had preemptively sealed off. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstration but stressed that officers would respond if violence erupted.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, approximately 150 protesters demonstrated outside the Federal Detention Center before marching to ICE headquarters. Police intervened when a group blocked a major road, resulting in 15 arrests and prompting a review of officers’ use of force during the dispersal.
On the West Coast, about 200 protesters convened outside the San Francisco Immigration Court where several previous arrests elevated tensions. In Chicago, a protest led to the arrest of 17 individuals on charges including vandalism, with incidents of vehicles speeding through protest-filled streets.
A notable protest took place in Denver as demonstrators gathered outside the Colorado state capitol. The protest resulted in 17 arrests after police were forced to use smoke and pepper balls for crowd control.
In Spokane, a curfew was instituted by Mayor Lisa Brown after clashes outside an ICE office. Over 30 protesters were arrested with officers resorting to using “pepper balls” to manage the situation. The curfew was introduced to ensure public safety and exempted essential personnel, residents, media, and those attending or leaving local events.