# 2025 United States protests against mass deportation

Several protests broke out against United States President Donald Trump's mass deportation of illegal immigrants following the start of his second presidential term on January 20, 2025. Large-scale protests have occurred in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, South Carolina, and Texas.

## Background

After returning to office for his second term on January 23, 2025, United States President Donald Trump implemented several campaign promises regarding stricter immigration enforcement, leading to an uptick in ICE operations across major metropolitan areas.
On January 23, 2025, the DHS authorized federal law enforcement personnel from numerous federal agencies to assist in carrying out Trump immigration policies. A memo from acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman provided "the functions of an immigration officer" to several law enforcement agencies within the Justice Department, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The memo, addressed to acting attorney general James McHenry, noted that FBI agents have a role for arrests related to immigration, known as Title 8 authority; this authority was now conferred onto other agencies.
On January 23, high-profile ICE raids occurred in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Miami, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., detaining 538 illegal immigrants. The mayor of Newark claimed that ICE raided a local establishment, detaining illegal immigrants as well as citizens, including a veteran, without a warrant. The White House said that "The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals, including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors."
On January 29, Trump ordered the preparation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to house tens of thousands of migrants.

## Protests
### Alabama

On January 29, an anti-mass deportation public demonstration took place in downtown Albertville, Alabama. Many demonstrators chanted bilingual slogans such as "nobody is illegal on stolen land". Representative Robert Aderholt, whose congressional district includes Albertville, characterized the demonstration as "deeply concerning".

### California

On February 2, a large anti-mass deportation protest began at Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. The event was organized in response to increased immigration enforcement activities by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Participants gradually amassed into a crowd of several thousand as the protest progressed, with many carrying Mexican flags and banners with pro-immigration messages such as "Nobody is illegal" and "Viva Mexico". Demonstrators marched to and temporarily occupied portions of the Hollywood Freeway, leading to traffic disruptions in the downtown area. By approximately 4:00 PM PST, the LAPD Central Division confirmed that demonstrators voluntarily vacated the freeway and reassembled at City Hall. No arrests were reported.
On the same date, an anti-mass deportation protest was held in San Diego, California, which attracted more than a thousand participants. The demonstration began at the San Diego Convention Center and proceeded through the Gaslamp Quarter to the "Coming Together" sculpture at Park Boulevard. The sculpture was symbolically chosen for its representation of unity.
On February 7 multiple high schools across Los Angeles staged walkouts and congregated at City Hall. A simultaneous walkout protest in Pasadena remained peaceful.

### Colorado

On January 25, a march in Aurora, Colorado, was organized by the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition in protest against ICE raids. Over 2,000 protesters came out to support the cause and rally outside the state capitol building. This protest follows a series of intense ICE raids targeting neighborhoods and residential areas. There are also several volunteers, like those from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, that offer resources, such as legal services and literature on legal rights, to those at risk.

### Georgia

On February 1, around 1,000 protestors gathered on Buford Highway in metro Atlanta, blocking the roadway before being contained by Georgia State Patrol and Chamblee Police Department officers.

### Illinois

On January 25, a demonstration began at Water Tower Place in downtown Chicago, featuring multiple social justice speakers before participants marched to Trump Tower. The demonstration was originally scheduled for President Trump's second inauguration on January 20, but was postponed due to severe weather conditions. Over 60 advocacy organizations were involved in the march.

### Indiana

On January 30, a public demonstration was held in front of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis in direct response to Governor of Indiana Mike Braun's executive order signed on January 28 mandating full state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement policies. The demonstration had been organized by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.) Indiana, drawing dozens of protesters.

### Michigan

On February 5, as part of a nationwide movement dubbed 50501, around 500 people gathered in Lansing, Michigan's state capitol. Speakers criticized Trump's stance on Gaza and DEI, alongside his deportation efforts.

### Missouri

On February 1, a significant public demonstration took place in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The event drew approximately 1,000 participants who gathered to protest the Trump administration's enhanced deportation efforts in the metro area, with many playing drums, chanting, and conducting organized calls through bullhorns. The demonstration took place two days after ICE agents raided a Mexican restaurant in O'Fallon, where three workers were temporarily detained before being released when agents determined they had no criminal records.

### New Jersey

A protest occurred on March 1 at the Trenton WWII Monument, following the announcement of an ICE center opening in Newark, NJ.

### Pennsylvania

On February 5, protesters gathered in downtown Philadelphia, and marched on city hall.

### South Carolina

On January 29, a public demonstration was held at Marion Square in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Attendance quickly exceeded Charleston municipal law's 25-person threshold for un-permitted gatherings, with police reports indicating over 30 people present at the start. Within an hour, law enforcement estimated the total number of protesters had grown to more than 100 people spread across downtown Charleston. After demanding that the protesters disperse, officers began arresting protesters, detaining seven in total and holding them at Al Cannon Detention Center with $465 bonds.

### Texas

On January 26, concurrent public demonstrations drawings hundreds of protesters were held in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas during Trump's first week in office.
On February 1, a demonstration organized by the Austin Party for Socialism and Liberation was held to protest the construction of a facility in Pflugerville, Texas, that was believed to be a future ICE operations center. The protest drew dozens of participants demanding transparency from both federal and local officials regarding the facility's purpose and approval process.