Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Triggers Protests, Outrage Across US
Dozens of protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles on Thursday night to voice their anger over what they described as the increasingly aggressive tactics of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
The demonstration, dubbed “No Sleep for ICE,” took place outside a hotel where ICE agents were believed to be staying.
Protesters banged pots, blew air horns, blasted distorted sounds from speakers, and held signs reading “No rest for ICE” and “ICE out of LA” in a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agents’ rest and draw attention to what they called ongoing injustices.
“They terrorise our community the entire day. Why do they get a good night’s sleep?” asked 23-year-old Nathanael Landaverde, who participated in the protest with a dismantled frying pan in hand.
The protest was one of many recent demonstrations held across major US cities, particularly in more liberal states, in response to federal raids, arrests and detentions being carried out in what critics call “militarised” and “inhumane” fashion.
Videos and images from recent raids show heavily armed, often masked ICE agents storming locations and arresting suspected undocumented migrants in courthouses, on farms and even in residential areas.
ICE has also come under fire for allegedly detaining some US citizens who attempted to intervene during arrests, including a mayoral candidate in New York.
“They’re ripping families apart, and it’s horrifying to watch in my community,” said 22-year-old dance teacher Juliet Austin, who joined the rally while playing a blue accordion.
“They can’t sleep if they’re going to do that here.”
Protesters were seen dancing in front of the hotel, waving placards and making noise well into the night.
One woman screamed into a megaphone while a man with earmuffs amplified white noise from a speaker.
Though it was not officially confirmed that ICE agents were lodged at the hotel, organisers of the rally claimed to possess photographic evidence.
Curious hotel guests were seen peering through curtains as the protest went on.
The Trump administration’s immigration policy — central to his second-term campaign — continues to draw sharp criticism, with civil rights advocates warning of growing authoritarian tendencies.
“At what point will we as a nation find ourselves with a secret police?” asked Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, in a recent article.
Olson described the use of masks by federal agents as an alarming deviation from transparency and accountability.
California lawmakers have since introduced the “No Secret Police Act,” a bill seeking to prohibit the use of masks by federal officers during operations in the state.
Federal officials have defended the practice, arguing that agents wear masks to shield themselves and their families from retaliation.
However, this justification has not quelled public anger.
Despite the backlash, ICE has continued to publicise its operations on social media, often posting photos of detainees.
President Trump, in a statement last weekend, praised the agency, lauding its “incredible strength, determination, and courage.”
But for many Americans, especially in immigrant-heavy cities like Los Angeles, ICE has come to symbolise fear and oppression.
“I think it’s a modern Gestapo here in America,” said Austin.
“This city is not the one to mess with… We’re not gonna let it happen. We’re not tired.”
As protests continue to grow in size and frequency, it remains unclear whether the administration will scale back its tactics.
For now, the tension between federal immigration agents and the communities they operate in appears far from over.
AFP
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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