Thousands Protest ICE Raids in SF, NY, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Thousands of demonstrators marched in San Francisco to protest nationwide ICE raids and support immigrant communities. The protest was mostly peaceful, though a few late-night incidents led to arrests and minor vandalism. Similar anti-ICE demonstrations are emerging in cities across the U.S., including in New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas and Louisville.
San Francisco Anti-ICE Protest Quick Looks
- Thousands marched through San Francisco’s Civic Center and Mission districts
- Protesters rallied against ICE immigration raids across the U.S.
- March was largely peaceful, with minor vandalism reported
- San Francisco police arrested multiple individuals after dispersal orders
- Sunday’s protest led to 150 arrests, including minors
- Majority of arrests resulted in citations and releases
- Protesters called for immigrant rights and community protection
- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie coordinated with public safety officials
- Demonstrations also erupted in New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, and Louisville
- Activists denounced family separations and deportation tactics
Deep Look: San Francisco Protesters Rally Against ICE Raids, Hundreds Arrested Nationwide
Thousands of people flooded the streets of San Francisco on Monday night to protest a wave of aggressive immigration raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the country. Demonstrators marched through the Civic Center and Mission neighborhoods, voicing outrage over mass deportation efforts and expressing solidarity with immigrant communities under threat.
The protest remained “overwhelmingly peaceful,” according to the San Francisco Police Department. Despite the mostly calm demonstration, a few small groups broke off toward the end of the night, committing acts of vandalism and refusing to comply with dispersal orders. Police reported multiple arrests and confirmed that one situation remained unresolved as of Tuesday morning.
Marchers carried signs, chanted slogans, and called for justice for families separated by immigration enforcement. Among them was activist Holly Minch, who said: “California, we are better because of our diversity, and for people to be torn away from school graduations, torn away from their children—that’s not right. We have to come out here and tell people that’s not right.”
Sunday Protest Yields Dozens of Arrests
Monday’s protest followed a weekend of heightened unrest near federal immigration offices in the city. On Sunday, approximately 150 protesters were arrested outside the Immigration Services building, including some under the age of 18. According to police, those arrests followed violent and destructive acts after protestors ignored lawful dispersal orders.
Interim Police Chief Paul Yep addressed the arrests in a Monday briefing. He confirmed that 147 individuals had been cited and released, while one person was booked on a felony charge. Six juveniles were also arrested. Yep noted that nearly half of those arrested were San Francisco residents.
“We are committed to protecting the First Amendment, but violence and property destruction are not part of peaceful protest,” said Yep.
City Coordination and Public Safety Response
The San Francisco Police Department said it worked closely with other public safety agencies under the direction of Mayor Daniel Lurie. The goal, officials said, was to maintain public order while ensuring the constitutional rights of demonstrators were respected.
“Our city stands for inclusion and justice,” Mayor Lurie’s office said in a statement. “We will protect peaceful protest and safeguard our communities.”
Police deployed crowd control teams throughout the Civic Center and Mission neighborhoods to monitor the situation and intervene only when necessary.
Nationwide Movement Against ICE Intensifies
The unrest in San Francisco is part of a growing national wave of anti-ICE protests following expanded federal immigration enforcement operations under President Donald Trump’s administration. Demonstrations have erupted in cities including New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas, and Louisville in recent days.
Protesters across the country are condemning what they describe as inhumane tactics by federal agents—including early morning raids, family separations, and the targeting of individuals with pending immigration hearings or asylum claims.
Activist groups and immigration advocates argue that these actions disrupt families and erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
“This is about more than policy. It’s about who we are as a country,” said an organizer from the Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition. “We won’t stand by while families are torn apart and human rights are violated.”
Looking Ahead
With tensions continuing to escalate nationwide, more protests are expected in the coming days. Organizers in several major cities are planning coordinated demonstrations and civil disobedience efforts to bring attention to the issue.
In San Francisco, community leaders have called for calm and urged city officials to create more sanctuary protections for immigrants living under fear of deportation.
As the federal government ramps up enforcement efforts and public resistance intensifies, the clash over immigration policy is once again emerging as a defining issue in American political and civic life.
Anti-ICE protests have popped up around the country, including in New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas and Louisville.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.