Following a tumultuous weekend of protests in Los Angeles, activists are poised to extend their demonstrations throughout the country on Tuesday. Major cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta are set to host rallies against ICE raids and the federal government’s immigration policies. Additionally, nationwide protests dubbed “No Kings” are scheduled for Saturday, drawing attention to these critical issues.
During the Los Angeles protests, authorities reported 56 arrests, coinciding with the deployment of 700 marines and over 2,000 National Guard troops by President Donald Trump. This military presence sparked a confrontation with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both of whom condemned the action as an overreach of executive power. In response, California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, characterizing the National Guard’s deployment as illegal.
NBC News identified at least 25 protests occurring across the nation, some gathering only a handful of participants while others attracted thousands united against the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants. Among those demonstrating were many trade unionists, who were advocating for the release of SEIU California President David Huerta, arrested during Friday’s protests.
In San Francisco, thousands participated in the second day of demonstrations on Monday. The San Francisco Police Department reported that while the march was largely peaceful, a small number of individuals committed acts of vandalism, leading to an unspecified number of arrests. On Sunday, at least 60 were arrested for not adhering to dispersal orders.
“It’s important for us to show up everywhere, because what happened in L.A., what’s happening all over our country,” said Xan Joi of Berkeley. Other participants voiced their concerns through signs reflecting the urgency of the situation. Reports indicated around 1,000 individuals gathered for a protest in Santa Ana, Orange County, where police deemed the assembly unlawful.
Meanwhile, protests unfolded across the metro area of Portland, as well as in Seattle and Las Vegas. In San Jose, residents voiced personal stakes in the issue, such as Vanessa Garcia-Morales, who expressed fear for her son’s safety due to the current policies.
On the East Coast, tensions escalated in New York, where at least nine people were arrested following a standoff with police outside Trump Tower during a Monday rally. The protests addressed not only ICE raids but also a travel ban affecting several countries. Additional protests occurred in Boston, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
In Dallas, an arrest was made during a standoff that closed a busy intersection. Reports indicate around 500 people gathered at the Texas Capitol and hundreds more in San Antonio. Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized the deployment of National Guard troops to L.A., labeling the situation an organized assault on federal law enforcement.
Protests were similarly organized in cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, Louisville, and Chicago. Amidst the widespread unrest, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed that the agency would persist with raids and deportations, stating, “ICE will continue to enforce the law.”