Dallas, TX – On July 14, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression-Dallas hosted a rally to demand justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero.

Araujo and Guerrero were killed by ICE agents in Houston and Maine, respectively, within a span of a week.

The rally was scheduled during the semifinal game of the World Cup hosted at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Attention was also drawn to the grand jury investigation of Los Angeles-based immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete.

The protest was attended by concerned community members who spoke out against the killings.

Xavier Velasquez, the chair of NAARAPR Dallas, commented, “We’ve come here today to bring awareness and to demand justice for Lorenzo Araujo, Joan Guerrero and to also demand DOJ hands off Nadia Topete. Our people are under attack from all sides, immigrants and immigrant rights activists and we aren't going to it be business as usual. With the World Cup happening as a backdrop to this action, we are trying to bring the issue of ICE violence and federal repression of immigrant rights activists like Nadia Topete to the world stage!”

Protesters chanted, “Legalization for all!” “Justice for victims of ICE,” “Hands off Nadia Topete” and “ICE out of Dallas!”

#DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights

North Charleston, SC – Hundreds of community members gathered in Park Circle on July 18 for a “Vigil for Justice” called by the Charleston Community Service Organization (CSO) to honor Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastián Guerrero, as a part of the Legalization for All national week of action.

“We are here to demand justice for those killed by ICE and those who are facing political repression for speaking out against these injustices,” said Roy Xala, a lead organizer with Charleston CSO.

On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed during an enforcement operation in which agents reportedly mistook him for someone else. On July 13, Joan Sebastián Guerrero was fatally shot, reportedly in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter. The following day, a third man was struck and killed by a tractor trailer on a Florida highway while fleeing federal immigration agents. Over a dozen names were read by organizers followed by chants of “We will not forget.”

The deaths have fueled grief and outrage in communities across the country, and activists and organizers are demanding accountability. One such organizer, Nadia Topete, Centro CSO in Boyle Heights, has become the target of FBI repression. Activists in Charleston lifted up her case during their event.

“We can’t forget to demand hands off Nadia Topete because she is facing repression for the very same thing we are out here doing today, demanding justice for our immigrant and undocumented community members,” said Erica Veal, organizer with the Lowcountry Action Committee (LAC) and the Freedom Socialist Organization (FRSO). “We have a duty to stand in solidarity with Nadia and all activists facing repression because protesting is not a crime. Today it’s Nadia and tomorrow it could be us.”

The vigil in North Charleston comes as immigration enforcement intensifies across South Carolina. Nearly one-third of all South Carolina immigration arrests in 2025 occurred in Charleston County, a surge driven in part by the intentional expansion of 287(g) agreements that deputize local and state law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement. The fear has had a massive effect on daily life, with community members missing work, pulling children from school and skipping medical appointments rather than risking an encounter with ICE.

CSO led the vigil and built a broad coalition of local organizations who want to stand in solidarity with their immigrant community, including the FRSO Charleston, LAC, Charleston DSA, Indivisible Charleston, 50501 SC, as well as the Charleston Climate Coalition, Free Palestine Charleston and a number of other groups that understand how closely the fight for immigrant rights is connected to their own struggles.

“Lorenzo and Joan should be alive today – and what happened to them could happen to any of our neighbors here in the Lowcountry,” said Charleston CSO organizer Dulce Lopez. “We're gathering to say their lives mattered, and we won't stay silent – we will show up and join communities across the country who are taking a stand against ICE's reign of terror every time.”

#NorthCharlestonSC #SC #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CharlestonCSO

Brooklyn, NY — On the evening of Friday, July 17, community members gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center for a speak-out style protest under the banner “No more ICE murders!”

The action, held in full view of the Gowanus Expressway, was organized by the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which was joined by organizers and speakers from Brooklyn Against War, NYC ICE Watch, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Protesters unfurled a massive banner reading “ICE out of everywhere” as rush-hour traffic roared past on the elevated expressway and Brooklyn’s 3rd Avenue. That tactic drew plenty of positive attention, as drivers on the expressway responded with a chorus of honks, signaling solidarity with the demonstrators. Meanwhile, organizers handed out flyers to pedestrians walking past on the sidewalk, some of whom joined the action to chant and listen to the lineup of speakers.

Speakers addressed the crowd and passing commuters alike, demanding justice for the victims of recent ICE violence, legalization for all undocumented immigrants, and a complete withdrawal of ICE and all federal agents from New York City. Conditions around the MDC, a federal facility holding at least 200 immigrants, many of whom have not been charged with a crime, were condemned as a manifestation of racist national repression.

“The Metropolitan detention center is notorious for being dark and overcrowded, for mold and fungus, and poor quality food, for non-functioning toilets and unsanitary conditions,” NYAARPR organizer Jamie Kowalski said in a speech. “We demand free all ICE detainees from the MDC!”

The evening's program also featured calls to action linking local resistance to the broader national movement against ICE violence.

“We are the New York Alliance, and we are out here to say we reject the idea that communities are made safer by armed immigration raids,” said organizer Ruby Doswell. “We reject the criminalization of immigrants who come to this country to work, support their families, and build a future. We demand accountability for the deaths of Lorenzo [Salgado Araujo], Joan [Sebastián Durán Guerrero], and Juan [Jairo Coronilla Duran].”

In their speech, Briony Smith, an organizer with Brooklyn Against War, observed that repressive immigration enforcement is not “arbitrary” or “isolated,” but the domestic arm of U.S. imperialism.

ICE repression “is part of a larger agenda that looks to expel, in particular, Latin American people but not exclusively, at the same time that the Trump administration attempts to extend its tentacles throughout Central and South America to suck dry the resources of sovereign countries, in order to enrich American billionaires,” Smith told the crowd.

The protest comes amid escalating outrage over ICE’s deadly operations and the ongoing invasions of immigrant communities. Organizers made it clear that the struggle is far from over, vowing to continue building pressure until ICE is removed from every corner of the city.

#BrooklynNY #NY #NYC #ImmigrantRights #NYAARPR

Santa Ana, CA – On Friday, July 17 several members of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) delivered a petition to the Santa Ana Immigration Court. In May of 2025, the court was one of the first places Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) started arresting people. CSO OC has been running a campaign since then to pressure the immigration judges to move all hearings online so that people attending their hearings would not have to face ICE at the court. They collected over 1000 signatures calling for this.

Although, in June of 2026, a California judge ruled that arrests will no longer be allowed inside or outside immigration courts, CSO OC members upheld their demands.

Diana Terreros stated, “CSO OC found that the judges had a policy, PM21-03, that allows them to do remote hearings whenever they want. By choosing not to implement universal remote hearings, the judges at this immigration court have been complicit in ICE’s illegal arrests and allowed them to tear apart families. Even now, there is still a risk that ICE will continue detaining people at the court despite the ruling. ICE has shown complete disregard for the law and people's rights.”

CSO OC members marched towards the immigration court holding two large signs with photos of people who have died in ICE detention with “Detention = Death.” They held a banner that said, “Stop ICE arrests at the court!” They chanted “ICE out of our neighborhoods!” and “No justice, no peace! No ICE in our streets!”

Steven Ayoub stated, “Think about what that does to a person. You're forced into an impossible choice: show up to court and risk arrest or skip your hearing and be deported automatically for not appearing. There's no safe option. And I want to be honest with you about how high the stakes have become, because this isn't only about detention anymore. Just this past month, in Texas, a man named Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed. He was a 52-year-old father of three, originally from Mexico, who had been living in the United States for decades. On the morning of July 7, he was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston.”

Ayoub continued, “I raise this because it shows what we're really talking about. When enforcement is this aggressive and this unaccountable, an ordinary person doing an ordinary thing driving to work, or showing up to a court date can end up detained, or worse.”

Luis Morales Pedraza Babylon shared his experience. “I’m currently in the court system applying for a spousal green card and ever since the ICE thing started happening, sometimes when I go to sleep that’s all I think about. What if I get arrested and get sent to Mexico? I was brought here when I was four years old ,so I wouldn’t really know what to do over there.”

When they arrived at the court, they marched in holding their signs and were met with security and metal detectors. Once inside, they handed the petitions to the clerk desk. They had printed and addressed a petition for each of the 22 judges. The clerk initially did not want to accept them and had to go through two supervisors to get approval, although a stack of papers being delivered to them is not out of the ordinary. In the end, the petitions were accepted and delivered to the judges.

CSO OC fights for immigrant rights and police accountability. If you would like to connect with CSO OC you can contact them through Instagram at CSO.OC or gmail at orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #CSOOC #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Minneapolis, MN – On Friday, July 17, around 200 people gathered in a majority-immigrant neighborhood in scorching 95-degree heat to demand justice for four men who were murdered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in just seven days.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, was shot by ICE on July 7 during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas. He had built houses for over three decades, worked hard while putting his three sons through college, and was simply driving his construction crew to work that morning.

Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26, was killed on July 13 in Maine. He was working two jobs in order to support his wife and their three-year-old daughter. His daughter was in the car when ICE agents shot through the window.

Both men were killed because ICE agents were looking for someone else.

Also on July 13, Jesus Manuel Arenas-Silva, a 45-year-old Venezuelan man, was killed in ICE custody while being transferred by bus from a detention center to an ICE processing center in Georgia. ICE ignored his family's repeated pleas to allow him to take his medicine while in detention. He was killed by purposeful medical negligence. Killed by ICE.

On July 14, Juan Jairo Coronilla Duran, a 28-year-old Mexican man, was struck and killed by a semi truck while being chased by ICE in Saint Augustine, Florida. He and his coworkers stopped for something to eat when they were racially profiled by ICE. None of them were the subject of any sort of immigration investigation.

The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) organized the rally as part of a broader movement that demands accountability and justice. Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, ICE agents have shot and killed at least 11 people. The pattern is consistent: traffic stops, warrants for the wrong person, ICE with guns.

Rally attendees held out their signs demanding justice and chanting “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos” and “Say it once say it twice, we will not put up with ICE!” A banner read, “Three days since ICE has killed that we know of…” Despite the oppressive heat, the people stayed and ensured their voices were heard.

A MIRAC speaker at the rally told the crowd, “Here’s the thing, neither (Araujo nor Guerrero) was who ICE was looking for. ICE was looking for someone else. But they killed these two men anyway.”

The MIRAC speaker continued, “We’ve been asking for help. We’ve been saying ban 287(g) agreements. Keep ICE out of schools and hospitals. But it keeps happening. So we need a governor who will actually do something. Not just say stuff. Actually do it.”

The Department of Homeland Security has justified the murders of Araujo and Guerrero utilizing the same false claim: that these men were weaponizing their vehicles. It was the same justification utilized when ICE killed Renee Good in Minneapolis in January. Videos that surfaced contradicted the agency’s account. For Araujo’s death, no video has emerged, but there was footage of the aftermath. ICE has used this same justification in dozens of cases that were thrown out by federal courts after their blatant lies were exposed. They are murderers, plain and simple.

The rally was not a plea for compassion. It was not people asking nicely for things to improve. People have been demanding real change for years: Banning ICE agreements, keeping federal agents out of schools and hospitals, charging and jailing agents and all police who kill. Yet nothing has changed. The people will stay in the streets, refusing to accept the normalization of ICE murder.

The protest was part of a national week of action organized by the Legalization for All Network. Minnesota is always ready to fight back. The crowd on Minneapolis’ Lake Street had energy despite the heat. People showed up to shout the names of the victims of ICE terror so they will never be forgotten. Their message was clear: ICE out now and forever.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIRAC

The action happened in the wake of an increase of ICE activity in the area and just days after Juan Jario Carasquillo Durán, a local 28-year-old Mexican immigrant, was struck and killed by a semi truck while crossing a highway fleeing from ICE in Saint Augustine, a city only around 40 minutes away from Jacksonville.

Durán’s death marked the third death in the past week during an ICE interaction, with the second death being Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian father and husband who was shot and killed in front of his wife and daughter in Maine.

Around 100 local activists and community members gathered to demand justice for the victims. Organizations such as the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, and 50501 Vets were among several groups that spoke. Signs held at the rally said, “ICE out of our community,” “Hands off Nadia Topete” and “Florida will melt ICE.”

“We can’t just let a member of our community pass away and not have anything to say about it,” said a member of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, “We can’t just stand by and watch as our other community members for weeks have been terrorized, scared to even leave their own homes to go to their jobs.”

JIRA continues to stand in solidarity with the families of the victims as they fight for justice for their loved ones and advocate for the rights of immigrants in Jacksonville through know your rights initiatives, demanding an end to the cruelty camps, and demanding an end to the 287(g) agreement, which allows local law enforcement to act as ICE.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #JIRA

The rally will be hosted by Save Heritage Indiana, a nonprofit considered by the Southern Poverty Law Center to be an anti-immigrant hate group. It will also feature recorded remarks from Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith.

Bovino became notorious as the face of ICE and CBP after Trump’s second term began. The blowback came at the beginning of this year, after agents under his command murdered Renee Goode and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. His removal was one concession wrung out of the Trump administration by the unprecedented mass mobilization of Minnesotans against “Operation Metro Surge.”

Bovino is leveraging his notoriety on a tour of the country in preparation for a potential presidential run in 2028, using the narrative that he was forced out by a feckless administration unwilling to do “real” mass deportations. Bovino claims, per the “Heritage Rallies” website, that there are over 100 million “illegal aliens” in the country needing to be deported, nearly a third of the U.S. population.

These false claims are being backed up by a coterie of far-right Indiana politicians, the most prominent of course being Lieutenant Governor Beckwith. Beckwith has long courted controversy: he has always referred to himself as a “Christian Nationalist” and most recently called Islam “demonic” and “more dangerous than Nazism.”

Another speaker will be Brandon Harnish, founder of the Pat Buchanan Society and self-proclaimed member of the “New Right” and county councilor for Wells County. The third speaker will be Anthony Rubin, founder of the website Muckraker, who produces anti-immigrant propaganda similar to that of Youtuber Nick Shirley, whose staged reporting in the Twin Cities was used as a pretext by the Trump administration for Operation Metro Surge.

The host of the event, Save Heritage Indiana, is run by Daniel Poynter. A Purdue alumnus, tech industry businessman, and self-proclaimed descendant of Patrick Henry and Mayflower passengers, Poynter got his start in the non-profit world with Carbon Neutral Indiana, which is dedicated to finding ways to mitigate climate change. Last year, Poynter pivoted to co-founding SHI with Nathan Roberts, a far-right college student, because, according to their website, they “realized the world we grew up in is being destroyed.” SHI’s website is a litany of thinly-veiled racism but makes its violent white supremacy clear when they state their goal of “reversing mass migration.”

Save Heritage Indiana is but one part of a larger nationwide alliance called the Mass Deportation Coalition. According to its website, this coalition includes partners ranging from institutional heavy hitters to private individuals. The former includes the likes of the Heritage Foundation (of Project 2025 infamy) and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (a longstanding anti-immigration think tank cited by both Democrats and Republicans in making policy) with the latter including Blackwater mercenary Erik Prince and former ICE head Mark Morgan.

This “movement” for mass deportations is indicative of a contradiction within Trump’s ruling coalition. This contradiction is between the tendency of the monopoly capitalist base to seek ever larger numbers of precarious, super-exploitable workers from the world’s oppressed nations to immigrate, and the tendency of the white chauvinist superstructure to prevent immigration. The contours of this contradiction became immediately clear even before Trump had begun his second term, in a bitter debate over H-1B visas.

The racist position, espoused by Stephen Miller, was that these visas should be eliminated and that the jobs filled by these visa holders go to Americans instead. The monopoly capitalist position, argued by Elon Musk, was that there simply are not enough sufficiently trained workers in the U.S. to fill the jobs and that the immigrants coming through H-1Bs are qualitatively different “desirable” immigrants. Trump sided with monopoly capital and, in the end, left H-1Bs alone.

The stakes involved in the struggle are all too clear in the wake of ICE’s most recent murders, and thankfully, the mass movement against ICE repression and for legalization for all continues to gain momentum.

A coalition of local organizations in Indiana has already planned a counter-march: the Hoosier Hospitality March. The coalition includes Indivisible chapters from all over central Indiana, Indy Resistance, Voices 4 Democracy, Somos Latinos, and Hamilton County Food Not Bombs.

Since Save Heritage Indiana (SHI) refuses to disclose to the public where their event will be held, the protesters’ coalition will be marching from Holland Park to the Municipal Center, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of SHI’s Bovino rally. The march will be a show of support and solidarity to the members of the community that SHI and Bovino seek to terrorize.

If you want to join that fight, look for local affiliates near you of the Legalization for All (L4A) Network, or local Chicano rights organizations. If you have any information as to where SHI’s rally will be held, do not hesitate to reach out to the organizations named above, or to FRSO Indiana.

#PerdueIN #IN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Bovino

Santa Ana, CA – On Wednesday evening, July 15, around 70 protesters took over the corner of Bristol and 1st in Santa Ana with the rallying cry, “Justice for Lorenzo Salgao Araujo! Justice for Joan Sebastian Guerrero!” “Hands off Nadia!” This protest was put on during a national week of action that was called by the Legalization 4 All Network to demand justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Joan Sebastian Guerrero, and immigrants’ rights activist Nadia Topete.

“Today, we are here because in just one week, Immigration and Custom Enforcement has killed three people! Shame!”, stated Diana Terreros from Community Organization Orange County (CSO OC).

Terreros continued with describing the two known men who were murdered by ICE, “Lorenzo was killed in Houston and had lived in the U.S. for 35 years. He was simply on his way to work after picking up his crew when ICE decided to stop him and murder him. They were in unmarked cars and did not have body cameras. Joan Sebastian Guerrero was a 26-year-old Colombian living in Maine. He was murdered also after ICE initiated a traffic stop. They shot and killed him while his partner and three-year-old daughter watched.”

A moment of silence was then held for all victims of ICE.

“We are here to demand an end to ICE murders, an end to deportations, ICE out of our neighborhoods, and legalization for all!” exclaimed Terreros as she closed out.

“Sin justicia no hay paz!” and “ICE out of Santa Ana!”chanted the protesters.

Luis Morales Pedraza Babylon from CSO OC immigration committee stated, “The attempt to silence Nadia is not just an attack on her; it is a calculated tactic to keep every single one of us in the dark. The same systems that fear Nadia’s voice are the same systems that claimed the lives of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero. These are not isolated tragedies. They are the result of a system that treats our families as disposable.”

Babylon spoke regarding the repression immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete from Centro CSO in Los Angeles is facing. She has been subpoenaed by the FBI to appear before a grand jury twice and twice she has resisted.

Rachel from AlianzaTransLatinx took the mic, “Today we raise our voice for the victims and those also still detained by ICE. Our humanity does not end when we cross a border. We demand transparency and an investigation when a person is killed in detention or at the hands of ICE!”

“My heart breaks and I am filled with rage every time another family, another life is destroyed by the unimaginable cruelty of ICE. We must honor Lorenzo, Joan, and every single life taken by ICE by showing up to this fight and by winning!” stated Jenna Perez, member of CSO OC immigration committee.

Perez continued, “We are also fighting alongside our immigrant neighbors in our local community right here in Santa Ana. Residents and families of the mobile home park Coach Royal have suffered abuse, harassment, and immigrant residents have been threatened with ICE being called on them. They have even had their homes illegally stolen from them by the Kingsley Corporation. Join us as we fight alongside the residents of Coach Royal and say fuera Kingsley!”

The protesters then marched around the large four-way intersection while holding signs stating “Killer ICE off our streets,” “Stop the deportations” and “Justice for those murdered by ICE.”

Rain Mendoza of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization took the mic, “Lorenzo Salgado and Joan Sebastian are the tenth and eleventh people to be killed in an ICE-related operation under the Trump administration. The inhumane violence done to immigrants is nothing new as deportation efforts have historically been fatal.”

Mendoza continued, “During mass deportations of the Great Depression and Operation Wetback, immigrants and Chicanos were deported and also died either in detention centers or during immigration operations. This is why I am a communist fighting for socialist revolution and overthrowing the ruling class. Only socialist revolution which brings about an end to the ruling class that steps on our necks and allows killer cops and ICE agents to shoot us down, can bring a change.”

“Justicia para Lorenzo Araujo! Justicia para Joan Sebastian Guerrero!”chanted the protesters as they took up both ends of the corner as more cars honked in support.

The action was organized by Community Service Organization OC as a response to a call to action by the Legalization 4 All Network. If you would like to connect with CSO OC you can contact them through Instagram at CSO.OC or gmail at orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #CSOOC #L4A

Chicago, IL – On Wednesday, July 15, more than 200 Chicagoans held a vigil and marched in Little Village to honor the two victims shot and killed by ICE this past week; Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 8 in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero on July 12 in Biddeford, Maine.

“ICE agents continue to roam the streets and kidnap our people, and here in this neighborhood of La Villita they continue to tear apart families,” stated Gio Araujo of the Immigrant Rights Working Committee of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (IRWC of CAARPR)

Araujo continued, “We have been campaigning to hold the Chicago Police Department accountable for their actions taken during Operation Midway Blitz and to this day such as the what we saw in Albany Park this last month.”

Marcela Rodriguez of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights stated that “federal immigration agents have engaged in at least 39 shootings since January 2025. Those shootings have resulted in 11 deaths, including Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez here in Chicago. Clearly this shows that murder is one of ICE’s tactics.” Marcela called for Illinois police departments to issue protocols to prevent unlawful actions in and around court houses by ICE. “The choice is clear, they can either proactively prevent the next ICE murder, or they can stand idly by as ICE continues to terrorize our communities.”

Anna Guieb, from Tangol Migrante Chicago, highlighted the struggles that Filipino immigrants endure both in the homeland and in the U.S. when they arrive in search of a better life. “We are here to both honor all those we have lost, but also to fight like hell for the living.”

Jay Starks of CAARPR’s Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST) emphasized the urgency for Chicago alderpersons to support the Community Power of Policing (CPOP) referendum. “Any official who speaks against accountability right now should be questioned, and that includes State’s Attorney Burke. Any official who opposes CPOP doesn’t see a connection between ICE murders, CPD torture and wrongful convictions needs to hear from us regularly,” said Starks.

As the vigil concluded in prayer and words of solidarity, the crowd then took to the streets and marched along 26th Street. Workers of nearby businesses came out in solidarity with chants of “Justicia for Lorenzo!” and “Justicia for Guerrero!” The march then concluded at a nearby park with a moment of silence for all victims of ICE violence.

The vigil and march was organized by the Immigrant Rights Working Committee with support from ICIRR, Tangol Migrante and Mexican Students de Aztlan at UIC in response to Legalization 4 All’s call for a week of action demanding justice for Lorenzo Salgado-Araujo and Nadia Topete.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE

Grand Rapids, MI – A historic heat wave hitting Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday night, July 15, did nothing to slow down a mobilization against the ICE murders of Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.

The protest was held in Garfield Park, in a neighborhood where nearly half the residents are Latino, and featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Michigan Senate District 29 candidate Ivan Diaz. Alongside calls for justice, the organizers said the main demand was to get ICE out of our neighborhoods.

Stationed near a busy intersection, the crowd began with chants of “El pueblo, unido, jamás será vencido!” and “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” before moving into speeches. The reception from the street was enthusiastic, with drivers cheering and shouting anti-ICE slogans.

Diaz was introduced first, stressing a message of unity to fight back these attacks.

“We have to be able to work together,” said Diaz. “Focusing on petty differences, or differences of opinion or strategy, is not going to help us beat this system.”

Eduardo Montiel, an organizer with the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Coalition Against Trump (CAT) – the organizers of the protest – similarly projected a need to join together.

“Both [Joan and Lorenzo] were working class, like the majority of us in this country. Both were just trying to provide for their families,” said Montiel. “This is the common thread that unites all of us.”

The rally portion lasted around an hour, with additional speeches from Lily Cheng-Schulting, a disability rights activist and candidate for State House District 80; Michael Amirault, an organizer with the recently-formed Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW); and Julliette Kibby of Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR).

Both Amirault and Juliette Kibby connected the war against immigrants at home with U.S.-led wars abroad, expressing the necessity to fight for our immigrant neighbors while also committing to the fight against imperialism.

The evening closed with a vigil portion, including a read out of every person killed by ICE this year followed by a moment of silence.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #ImmigrantRights #GRAARPR #NAARPR

Portland, OR – On Wednesday, July 15, 230-plus community members gathered together at Discovery Gateway Park to honor the three lives stolen by ICE killers. The event, organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones demanded ICE off our streets and justice for Lorenzo Salgado, Johan Guillermo, and the third victim from Florida.

The event had a large ofrenda where attendees left items for the victims. The table was filled with candles, colorful flowers that included the traditional cempasúchil, beer, lottery cards, sweet cookies and more.

As people entered the park, they were able to leave their offerings at the altar and pick up a small candle. After speeches, people lit their candles and listened to songs by activist group Singing Resistance. Afterwards, the community blew out their candles to honor the three victims.

Gabriel Ollinsix a leading member of Portland Contra las Deportaciones was the first speaker and set the tone for the night, “We know that if our families are ever going to have true safety, if we are ever going to know that our fathers, our tíos, and our loved ones will come home at the end of the day, we must drive ICE out of our communities.”

This was the sentiment that was felt throughout the attendees. While there were a few tears at different times and there were a few chants repeated with anger demanding justice, the overall feeling was the understanding that no one is safe as long as ICE is out in the streets.

While the event was first announced on Sunday, July 12, by the time the event happened on Wednesday, July 15, two more victims had been included: Johan Guillermo and a third victim, Juan Coronilla. The victims were from Latin America, which brought Spanish speakers to the event. The speakers all gave their speeches in Spanish and English.

Speakers also addressed the repression faced by activist Nadia Topete in Southern California. Topete was called before a grand jury twice over the last year in response to her immigrant rights activism. Attendees honored her resistance and committed to continuing to help her fight this repression.

The event ended with a call to action from Cami Saunders: “Thank you for being here with us today, and I hope to see all of you again! The fight continues, and there is so much to do here in Portland. The murders did not happen in our city, but we are fighting to close the facility, to prevent it from happening here.”

Volunteers went around the park as people were leaving with tablets to send emails to the Portland Permitting and Development to demand the Portland ICE facility be shut down.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE #ICE #PDXCD #Featured

On July 1, law enforcement came to the home of a Los Angeles immigrants’ rights activist and Centro CSO member, Nadia Topete, to deliver a second subpoena ordering her to speak in front of a grand jury on July 8. Topete had been first subpoenaed to testify in June. Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) condemns this second subpoena of Topete and will fight against any attempt to jail her.

We now know that this grand jury is related to the anti-ICE activism in Los Angeles that took place last summer. We also have every reason to believe that this is an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrants’ rights activist who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Orellana was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The bogus charges were later dropped.

Nothing good comes from speaking in front of a grand jury. Grand juries, nine times out of ten, result in indictments, and they are frequently used against activists. Not testifying against one’s fellow activists can mean jail time. Those who refuse to testify in front of grand juries are heroes. We should learn from their example and exercise that kind of courage in order to protect our movements from harm.

Women Against Military Madness members Sarah Martin and Meredith Aby resisted grand jury subpoenas in 2010 as a part of the “Justice” Department’s investigation into the anti-war and international solidarity movements. Martin was re-subpoenaed in an effort to pressure her to speak. She refused and in the end none of the Anti War 23 went to jail. Our movement had this victory because people around the country stood up for our people. We understand the importance of doing this again.

WAMM also understands that the targeting of activists in LA is a part of a broader effort to criminalize anti-ICE activism nationally. We also stand with the MN 15 who were indicted on “conspiracy to impede federal officers.” People across MN, including WAMM members, stood with our immigrant siblings to demand ICE leave MN last winter and protesting political repression of our immigrant siblings is NOT a crime.

Neither Topete nor Orellana did anything wrong by protesting against the ICE occupation of Los Angeles. Nor did Topete do anything wrong by not speaking about her activism in front of the grand jury. We ask all fair-minded people to stand with Nadia Topete. She has only ever done the right thing, which is to stand by the Chicano people and the people of Aztlán. We call upon our supporters to dial into the office of Assistant US Attorney Michael Wheat and demand, Hands Off Nadia Topete!

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WAMM #ImmigrantRights #AntiWarMovement #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression

Edwin Salazar of the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS) stated, “If it’s him this week, is it going to be us next? Who's going to be next?”

Salazar continued “We’re angry, we’re upset. But we can continue to show up consistently every single month, every single week, every single day. We’re supporting our immigrant communities here in San Jose, in California, in America!”

Uriel Magdaleno, a member of CSO San Jose, read a statement by the Legalization for All Network in which he gives details on the unjust pursuit Salgado-Araujo faced by ICE agents. Magdaleno stated “ICE agents had no jurisdiction to perform local traffic stops. They lie and this is what they use to justify an ICE agent opening fire and shooting Salgado-Araujo in the stomach.”

Magdaleno later brought up a case in which ICE, in Texas, took a life in a similar manner, stating, “On February 24, 2026, 23-year-old Ruben-Ray Martinez, a Chicano U.S. citizen, was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Shame!” Magdaleno finished off his speech chanting, “Justice for Lorenzo” and “Hands off Nadia!”

Kim Cortéz-Solorio with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “The monopoly capitalist class is set on attacking the Chicano nation and continues to use ICE as its primary means of carrying out their brutality against Chicanos and immigrants.”

Cortéz-Solorio continued, “Centro CSO members Nadia Topete and Alejandro Orellana are trying to be silenced by [Assistant U.S. Attorney] Bill Essayli. We stand in solidarity and say protesting is not a crime!”

The rally ended with chanting that showed solidarity with those who were martyred by ICE. Kim Cortez-Solorio and Jessica Aviles led chants including, “Justice for Lorenzo,” “Justice For Renee” and “ICE out!” The chanting was followed by a group called Singing Solidarity who brought community members together by singing at the end of the action.

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE #InJusticeSystem #ICE #CSOSanJose

Jacksonville, FL — On July 11, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) held an emergency rally in an area that has been seeing a growing presence of ICE. There were approximately 50 attendees demanding ICE leave their community for good.

When speaking on the extreme increase in ICE activity within Jacksonville, one of JIRA's own members stated, “I mean look around where we’re at, people in this very community have been taken away from their homes, ripped apart from their family and friends. They target our working-class immigrants at our very doorstep, all because they are the most vulnerable. It doesn’t matter to them if your documents are in order, they profile you immediately based off of their notions on what an immigrant looks like.”

There was an additional call for justice at this rally, as this took place within a week of the murder of ICE Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

JIRA stands in solidarity with the Lorenzo Salgado Araujo family in their demand for answers, as ICE has lied denied the family the right to claim his body while claiming to investigate their own crime.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #LorenzoSalgadoAraujo

Portland, OR – On July 10, the city of Portland dismissed an appeal by Portland ICE facility landlord Stuart Lindquist to overturn land use violations issued in September 2025, following months of public pressure by immigrant rights activists.

This latest victory for the immigrant rights movement follows a mass mobilization to a court hearing on the same day, where Multnomah County judge Steffan Alexander ruled the enforcement process could move forward following another legal challenge by Lindquist.

The ICE facility has been embroiled in a convoluted back-and-forth legal battle over the past year since an initial land use violation was issued, for holding detainees past a 12-hour limit and boarding up windows. Activists placed pressure on the city to move forward with not only enforcement but to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility entirely. In response, the city dragged its feet, and the landlord was granted multiple appeals in different jurisdictions regarding the same case.

After a year of voluntary delays of enforcement by the city, a hearings officer was set to give a ruling on an appeal filed by Lindquist on June 5. However, Lindquist then appealed to Multnomah County to delay this process further, arguing the hearings officer in Portland was biased. A Multnomah County judge sided with Lindquist and allowed a temporary stay on this ruling until a later court date in August 2026.

The city of Portland filed a motion to dismiss this stay, which was heard in court on July 10. Activists with PDXCD launched into motion and led an email and call-in campaign to the judge overseeing the July 10 hearing, sending hundreds of emails, holding a press conference outside the hearing with multiple news outlets, and mobilizing so many people to the hearing that the court room was filled and people were forced into overflow rooms.

The judge acknowledged the public pressure, stating he received many emails regarding this case. He then ruled against Lindquist and removed the stay. Almost immediately after, the city of Portland rejected Lindquist’s appeal.

The battle is not over yet. On August 14, Lindquist’s motion to dismiss the land use violation entirely will head to Multnomah County court once again. His argument rests on an accusation that the city of Portland is biased against the ICE facility.

Activists find this argument to be ludicrous, and instead argue the city has shown preference to the ICE facility over the greater Portland community.

“Over and over, the city stalled enforcing obvious violations by the ICE facility of both city code and human rights,” said activist Bailey Ullom, “An immigrant was held for 47 days in that building, an entire neighborhood was gassed, and yet a year later, it is still allowed to operate. It is clear the city has a bias towards wealthy developers and landlords, and the community is expected to just put up with it.”

Lindquist’s lawyer argued during the July 10 hearing that, if the land use violation was upheld, the Portland City Council would immediately revoke the permit, but even the most “progressive” city councilors have stated their opposition to revoking the permit. One councilor, Angelita Morillo, who identifies as a democratic socialist, went so far as to create a website to convince the people of Portland that the council should not revoke the permit.

Now that the land-use violation is upheld, the city can move forward with fining the landlord for $934 a month. Activists say this is not enough and demand the city moves forward with the process to revoke the permit for the facility entirely.

Lindquist’s attorney agreed the fine was not an issue for the ICE facility, stating during the hearing that “the $934 is not the problem.”

“The real problem for the ICE facility is if we get it shut down,” said PDXCD member Beatriz Ibarra, “that’s why Lindquist is fighting so hard to stall this in court, and why the city is giving him so many allowances. The city also does not want to shut down the facility.”

PDXCD vows to continue putting pressure on the city. They will be continuing with their email campaign for Lindquist's motion on August 14 to be struck down, and also for the Portland Permitting and Development Bureau to begin the reconsideration process to revoke the permit.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DetentionCenter

Decorah, IA – After months of organizing by immigrant rights advocates and community members, the Decorah Human Rights Commission voted July 7 to advance a proposed separation ordinance to the Decorah City Council, marking a significant step forward for local efforts to protect immigrants and challenge collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.

The 3-2 vote came after an emotional discussion in which commissioners wrestled with questions of legality, community safety and the commission’s responsibility to defend human rights in an increasingly hostile political climate.

The proposed ordinance, developed by community advocates, seeks to establish policies governing local interactions with federal immigration authorities and has become a focal point for concerns about immigration enforcement in northeast Iowa.

Several commissioners spoke candidly about the fear and uncertainty immigrant families are experiencing.

Commission Chair Nikki Battle described the issue as deeply personal, saying concerns about racial profiling had affected their own family. The commissioner said they feared people could be targeted simply because they are “perceived not to belong,” and, “Morally, what I think is happening in this country is repugnant,” she said.

Commissioners also debated whether advancing the ordinance could bring additional attention to Decorah and potentially expose vulnerable residents to greater risk. “My biggest concern is the safety of the people that we’re trying to protect,” one commissioner said, “We are the Human Rights Commission,” said Battle, arguing that elected officials should ultimately address legal questions while the commission focuses on the human impact of government policies.

The discussion highlighted the difficult position facing local governments as federal immigration enforcement intensifies and immigrant communities seek assurances that local institutions will stand with them.

Commissioners reviewed several provisions of the ordinance and discussed conversations with local officials regarding what protections and policies could be implemented immediately. Among the ideas discussed were distributing multilingual “know your rights” materials, increasing transparency and oversight, and providing additional resources to community members navigating encounters with law enforcement.

After debate, the commission voted on whether to forward the ordinance to the city council.

Initially, commissioners believed the motion had failed. Following the vote, members stated that four votes would be required for approval and announced that the measure had not passed.

However, City Manager Travis Goedken later informed the commission that city code allows action to be approved by a majority of members present. “You guys have your own rule in city code that says a majority of those present can actually approve a vote,” Goedken told the commission.

The clarification meant the 3-2 vote was sufficient for passage, allowing the ordinance to move forward to the Decorah City Council.

The development was met with visible emotion from many attendees.

One audience member responded by drawing parallels to historic struggles for voting rights and civil rights, arguing that unjust laws have often been challenged through organized action and public pressure.

The commission then turned its attention to next steps, such as voting to contact community organizations and conduct a needs assessment to identify ways it can support immigrant residents and advocacy efforts.

Several commissioners emphasized that the vote to advance the ordinance should not be viewed as the end of the process. “Our work is not done,” one commissioner said.

The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council, where elected officials will decide whether to take up the proposal.

For immigrant rights advocates and community members who have spent months raising concerns about immigration enforcement and its impact on local families, the commission’s vote represents an important victory and ensures that the issue will receive further public consideration.

After the meeting, Brittany Berg, a member of Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights (DCIR), described the vote as the result of sustained grassroots organizing, “The Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights has been building the movement toward a separation ordinance for over a year now, In its earliest stages, we were met with staunch denial, then some shuffling, then stalling.”

Berg said ordinance supporters intensified their efforts by speaking directly to the Human Rights Commission and building public support for the proposal.

“After last month's forum, it was made clear that, one, the ordinance has large community support, and two, the Human Rights Commission has a responsibility to recommend it to city council,” Berg stated.

Berg called the commission's action “a victory of collective effort of a grassroots movement” and emphasized that supporters intend to remain involved as the ordinance moves to the next stage of the process. “The recommendation to city council to review the ordinance is absolutely crucial,” a DCIR member said. “The fight most certainly does not stop now, as we move forward to work together with both the Human Rights Commission and city council. We will persist in our efforts to make Decorah safer and welcoming to all.”

The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council.

#DecorahIA #IA #ImmigrantRights #DCIR

Billings, MT – On July 10, the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights (BAIR) gathered in protest of an ICE agent’s murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas. The protesters rallied on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn, chanting “Justice for Lorenzo! ICE terror’s got to go!”

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, immigrated from Mexico 35 years ago and built a life in the U.S. He was a husband, father of three, and a construction worker. Lorenzo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, spoke out on July 8, describing his father as a “hardworking family man” who “dedicated his life in the United States to give his family the American Dream.” Like many others before Salgado Araujo’s death, he and his family were robbed of that dream under the Trump administration’s racist mass deportation campaign.

Brooke Lynn, a member of BAIR, gave a powerful speech, stating “They lied to you and told you they were going after criminals, but they’re killing family men with no criminal record!” Lynn continued, “It’s criminal that we have two ‘democratic’ parties that both have failed our neighbors trying to live a better life.”

During the rally, a member of BAIR read the names of those who died at the hands of ICE. Included were those who died from neglect and maltreatment in detention, as well as those murdered by ICE in the streets.

The Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights demands justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and all victims of ICE terror. BAIR will continue to fight for a sanctuary city in Billings, in order to limit ICE’s ability to operate in the city and prevent residents from being targeted for their immigration status.

To get involved in the fight, come to BAIR’s planning meetings, held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Billings Public Library large conference room. Follow BAIR on Facebook or Instagram @Billings_AIR to stay informed.

#BillingsMT #MT #ImmigrantRights #LorenzoSalgadoAraujo #BAIR

Santa Ana, CA – On July 8, over 50 Chicanos rallied outside a federal courthouse in support of Nadia Topete, a Chicana immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO who was inside with a grand jury. Just days before, on July 1, federal agents showed up to Nadia's home with another grand jury subpoena, threatening that, if she did not appear, she could be held in contempt.

Nadia Topete walked out the federal courthouse with her head up high and stated she had exercised her Fifth Amendment right. She was greeted by chants of “Hands off Nadia Topete,” “Chinga la migra” and “DOJ hands off Nadia!” that were loud enough to be heard inside the federal building.

“Protesting ICE is not a crime!” said Verita Topete, Nadia’s sister and fellow Chicana organizer. “Our communities are stronger than Trump and the DOJ’s ruling class interests. The targeting of Nadia is a pattern of political repression from the federal government.”

Jasia Topete, older sister of both Nadia and Verita, stated, “Today was a very moving gesture of unity and support for my baby sister, Nadia. Seeing the tremendous support she has gained on a national level through the calls to action online by different organizations was very heartening to see. Witnessing how many people took the time to come out and show her love was very heart warming and reassuring to our family. We know she did nothing wrong. Amplifying the voices of our people is not a crime. She will continue to hold her head high like the confident resilient that she is. Nadia, we love you, Thank you so much to everyone that is rooting for Nadia!”

Mick Kelly of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “I would like to salute Nadia, a woman of uncommon courage who is standing up for all of us. This will certainly not end here. We will stand with Nadia every inch of the way.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo, member of Centro CSO, stated, “I see this attack from the DOJ and the Trump administration as not only a direct attack on our sister Nadia but a direct blow to all of us fighting against this administration. An attack on one is an attack on all!”

Speakers from Centro CSO, CSO OC, CLUE, ILPS, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Legalization for All spoke in defense of Topete, condemning the political repression of Immigrant Rights activists.

It is unclear what is next, but if the DOJ witch hunt continues, Centro CSO and their allies will be ready to defend their own, Nadia Topete, a daughter of Aztlan.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #GrandJury #PoliticalRepression #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #NadiaTopete #CSFR #Featured

Bozeman, MT – On Monday, June 29, ICE agents arrived in Montana's Gallatin County and began a wide-ranging dragnet operation targeting the local immigrant communities, with assistance from the Montana Highway Patrol. More than 100 people are estimated to have been abducted as of July 9.

In contrast with ICE operations in the past, such as Metro Surge in Minneapolis, known abductions in Gallatin County have primarily targeted suburban and semi-rural residents, construction jobsites and areas devoid of potential witnesses. Most notably, buses full of hospitality staff bound for the Yellowstone Club, a private resort located an hour from Bozeman, were raided just before leaving to take their passengers to work. Around 80 people were estimated to have been detained in that raid alone.

Bozeman residents determined ICE were staying at the Springhill Suites by Mariott on July 1 and attempted to protest outside. They were threatened with “disturbing the peace” charges by the Bozeman Police Department (BPD). The police were then seen guarding the hotel, and later escorting unmarked vehicles known to be ICE. In spite of the fact that BPD released a statement committing not to involve themselves in immigration enforcement after the mass protest in the wake of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, they acted as bodyguards for the federal agents.

Word spread quickly, and Bozemanites flooded the city's public comment email address. In response, the city affirmed its position that BPD officers “are not assisting ICE and instead are ensuring safety for the general public.”

In protest, activists from Students for a Democratic Society at Montana State University and Montanans for Palestine rallied outside the Bozeman Police Station on July 7, drawing some 25 people. The crowd was upbeat and focused in their anger, at times breaking into spontaneous chants of “Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE!” The crowd made crystal clear through their chanting and marching that “No human is illegal,” they “will not put up with ICE,” and that money spent on racist deportations would be better spent on employment and education.

Confirmed Gallatin County ICE sightings have dramatically decreased, and the city government has not released any further statements. However, Bozemanites know the fight is far from over. As one marcher put it, “The city is lying to us. BPD knew ICE was coming, but didn't protect our communities when they came. How are we supposed to trust them to protect us when they're showing us that they won't?”

#BozemanMT #MT #ImmigrantRights

The MORE Caucus stands in absolute solidarity with Nadia Topete, an immigrant’s rights activist who has been subpoenaed a second time to a grand jury for her role protesting ICE. We know grand juries are used by the DOJ and Trump as a weapon to target activists for speaking out.

Protesting and organizing against ICE terror is not a crime. Last year, the UFT’s delegate assembly adopted an organizing resolution that supports both the rights of immigrant students as well as anti-ICE activists and unionists in the face of bogus charges from the corrupt Trump government. We know very well that these blatant attacks will not stop at activists and will attempt to put a muzzle on the brave people’s resistance to ICE, and as progressive educators we cannot allow that to happen. Hands off Nadia Topete!

#InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #MORE #UFT