Protests against Immigration Raids across the Country and The NO KINGS Protest

June 11th, 2025

With the fundamental right to protest protected under the First Amendment and with protests happening this week across the country against immigration raids, alongside the upcoming No Kings Day actions, we want to take a moment to share what’s happening, highlight key information you should know, and connect you with helpful resources.

Immigration Raids Protests

What is ICE?

• ICE, known as the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency. Their mission is to protect the United States from transnational crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety (ICE).

Where and Why?

• Protests started in Los Angeles after aggressive ICE raids in Los Angeles. A raid last Friday, where ICE officers arrested immigrants in raids at a Home Depot and Ambiance Apparel is noted as the starting point of these protests. Protestors confronted federal agents in attempts to prevent arrests. It is important to know that tensions with ICE is not new. ICE has repeatedly been criticized for targeting people by how they look, detaining non-violent immigrants and even non-immigrants, the in-humane living conditions of detention facilities, separating families, stripping away due process rights, raiding at sensitive locations, abusing and mistreating detained persons, and more. Demonstrations have since spread to other major cities such as, New York, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

  
  

What kind of Federal Response have been taken?

• President Trump deployed hundreds of U.S. Marines and National Guard personnels  to Los Angeles, bypassing the state's governor Gavin Newsom. He has been criticized for escalating the situation, wasting federal resources, making peaceful protests violent, and more. Newsom has since sued President Trump and the Defense Department and is set to appear in federal court.

• Hundred of arrest have been reported. Some protests have remained peaceful, but other protests involved clashes with police and the National Guard where tear gas, rubber bullets, among others are being used.

• In other states, such as Texas, the National Guard has been deployed in response to protests.

NO KINGS Protest

What is it?

• The NO KINGS Protest is a planned day of protest scheduled for June 14th across the country against Trump’s planned $100 million military parade in DC for the Army’s 250th and his birthday. It is called “No Kings Day,” to fight authoritarianism. Authoritarianism as defined by the Oxford Dictionary is the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

Know your Rights

• Legal rights

  • You have the freedom to peaceful protest and this right is protected

  • However, you still have to respect official curfews, dispersal orders, and permit rules

  • Know your jurisdiction, some cities like Los Angeles have curfews with orders to arrest anyone who is out after the curfew

• Stay informed

  • Sign up for local alert systems

  • Follow credible and trained community organizers and legal observers for updates and instructions

• At the protest

  • Wear comfortable and protective clothing. Wear closed shoes, layers, bring water, and have a mask in hand in case of the use of smoke or tear gas

  • Bring essentials like water, snacks, medications

  • Leave the area if law enforcement issues a dispersal order to avoid arrest and injuries

• If you are arrested or suffered an injury

  • If you are stopped by police, ask if you are free to go. If they say yes, leave.

  • If you are detained, you have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer, do not say anything without a lawyer present, if possible, record the interaction or have someone nearby do so.

  • Know the number of an emergency contact or write it down on some part of your body. Seek legal assistance from groups like ACLU or other local organizations. If you have a lawyer, know the number of your lawyer.

  • If you are injured, move away from the danger area, let people know. Seek medical care as soon as possible. There will be first aid kits for minor injuries. If necessary, go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care. Hospitals are legally required to treat emergency conditions regardless of immigration status or your ability to pay.

  • Document what happened, if it is safe to do so, take photos of injuries and note the time and place they occurred.

  • Contact legal organizations or legal support hotlines if you experience injury caused by law enforcement.

  • Protests can be physically and emotionally intense. It’s okay to seek mental health support, there will be spaces for debriefs and step outs.

  • Basic first aid tips in case of tear gas, pepper spray, or minor injuries.

    • Tear gas: Rinse eyes with water or saline. Remove contaminated clothing. Breathe fresh air.

    • Pepper spray: Blink rapidly to flush eyes. Rinse skin with cold water.

    • Bruises, cuts, or other injuries: Apply clean bandages. Use ice packs for swelling.

    • Bleeding: Put pressure on the area of bleeding, for five or more minutes until it clots. Do not take pressure off. If the bleeding is major, use a tourniquet if available and seek medical help immediately.

Disclaimer

Please remember: This is not a complete guide to protest safety or your legal rights. We encourage you to seek out trusted resources and organizations for further information. We care about your safety and wanted to take this opportunity to give you some information to be informed. Take care of yourself and each other.