This isn't how to change minds
Instead, the first thing I saw was a keffiyeh — the traditional Arab headscarf that's recently been appropriated by many leftists as a badge of solidarity with Gaza.
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And, apparently, any other progressive cause. At the center of a protest in Foley Square, just across the street from ICE's New York field office, a crowd of about 100 protesters dotted with keffiyehs and signs comparing ICE to Nazis formed a circle. It was a quieter affair than the protest the night before, when 86 protesters out of the 2,500 present were arrested by the New York Police Department.
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That the protest was quieter didn't mean it lacked revolutionary zeal. A young man passed out pamphlets from the Internationalist Communist Tendency calling not only to end deportations but to overthrow the 'system' to seize 'power for all workers.'
At the center of the crowd, someone wearing a keffiyeh over their face led chants like 'one, two, three, four, deportation no more.' There were also chants that compared ICE to the Ku Klux Klan and called for justice from Gaza to Mexico.
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But mostly Gaza. At the center of the square, standing on a statue, a young man waved a large Palestinian flag, much larger than the one or two Mexican flags I saw throughout the night. Nia, 23, a researcher from Brooklyn, wore a keffiyeh and told me that the immigration debate is related to the war in Gaza: 'I just believe in Black and brown people having equal rights and that means not being bombed and also not being forcibly removed from their homes.'
For Irene Siegel, a professor and member of the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace, it was a busy day of activism. Wearing an 'END THE SIEGE' T-shirt, she told me that she had just come from a Gaza-related protest. I asked why she felt compelled to protest ICE, too. 'They just both have to do with fascism, and extreme oppression of people that don't have a voice,' she said.
The crowd was largely white and, many of the people I interviewed were from Brooklyn. But I encountered a few people directly touched by the deportations. Nydia MacDonald, a 20-year-old model from Brooklyn with phone numbers written on her arm in case of arrest, told me that her mother is a Mexican immigrant. 'What's happening around the country is unethical and inhumane, and the kidnapping of immigrants is just absurd,' she said.
Ana, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient who works in finance and has family in Peru, told me, 'I am not only fighting for a chance for me, but I'm also fighting for a chance for my undocumented mom, for my siblings. … [If] Trump's agenda ends up in my family being deported, my US citizen sister will grow up alone.'
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But most people were there for the 'resistance.' One protester told me that violent protests are the only effective protests. Another said violent protest merely reflects 'a failure from the state to address issues in a peaceful manner.'
There was no middle ground when it came to deportations. I asked everyone I interviewed if deportations are ever justified, like when a migrant commits a violent crime. No one had a clear answer in the affirmative — and many were against deportations under any circumstance.
But that's not how the
Trump's
But that still doesn't mean Americans are entirely against deportations. By playing to the extremes, activists risk alienating them.
There are plenty of reasons for moderate Americans to be upset at ICE, but some of the activists I saw in New York weren't interested in appealing to them. If anything, linking ICE protests to Gaza or other lefty causes can repel would-be allies. It's hard to shake the feeling that they don't really want to find realistic political compromises that would make it possible for Ana's mom to find a path to citizenship in this country. They just want resistance.
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Carine Hajjar is a Globe Opinion writer. She can be reached at
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Newsweek
19 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Immigrants Are Embracing Trump's Crackdown on Immigration
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President Donald Trump speaks during an event to sign a bill blocking California's rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 12, 2025,... President Donald Trump speaks during an event to sign a bill blocking California's rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Washington. More Alex Brandon/AP What To Know According to an analysis of the American National Election Studies (ANES) by CNN's Harry Enten, immigrant voters, who favored Democrats by 32 points on immigration policy in 2020, now trust Republicans more on the issue by 8 points—a staggering 40-point swing. Trump's share of the immigrant vote has steadily increased—from 36 percent in 2016 to 39 percent in 2020 and now to 47 percent in 2024, based on Cooperative Election Study (CES) data analyzed by Enten. Perhaps even more telling is how immigrant voters feel about immigrants who are in the country illegally. In 2020, their net favorability stood at +23 points. This year that has flipped to -6—a 29-point decline in support for undocumented immigrants among immigrants themselves. Enten did not specify which demographics were included in his aggregate. It comes as polls suggest that Trump's hardline immigration stance is resonating with much of the public. In a sharp turnaround from his first term, Trump now holds a net positive approval rating on immigration, rising from -21 in June 2017 to +1 today, according to CNN's Harry Enten—his biggest gain on any issue. A YouGov/CBS News poll conducted June 4-6 found 54 percent of Americans support Trump's deportation program targeting undocumented immigrants, surpassing his ratings on the economy (42 percent) and inflation (39 percent). Additionally, 51 percent approve of ICE conducting searches. 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Thomas Gift, a political science professor at University College London, told Newsweek that many immigrants feel betrayed by current immigration policies, especially ones created under President Joe Biden. "Part of this shift likely stems from frustration among immigrants who feel they 'followed the rules' and now resent those who entered the country unlawfully," Gift explained. Jeremy Beck, co-president of the immigration reduction group NumbersUSA, told Newsweek that more immigrants came to the U.S. between 2021 and 2025 than during any other period in history—"more than half of them illegally." Between 2021 and 2024, there were over 10.8 million total illegal border encounters, according to the Department of Homeland Security, far exceeding the 2.8 million total from 2017–2020. That surge, he said, has spurred a backlash even among immigrant voters who helped form Trump's "winning coalition in November." These voters, he added, sent a "decisive message" to Washington: "Manage immigration at levels we can sustain, and credibly enforce the limits." The shift is also visible in the broader electorate. Beck pointed to Latino-majority districts in Texas and Colorado where Trump or immigration hardliners performed strongly. Trump made historic gains among Hispanic voters in 2024, with only 55 percent supporting Kamala Harris to Trump's 43 percent—an 8-point increase from 2020 and the highest percentage for a Republican presidential candidate since such data has been tracked. Beck concluded that Trump's "willingness to enforce immigration laws gives him a clear advantage" with voters—especially immigrants who went through the legal process. "After the border crisis, voters are aware of how important it is to manage immigration policy in the national interest," he said. 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Similarly, Cuban Americans differ in outlook depending on when and why they migrated to the U.S. But she noted that economic conditions strongly influence immigration attitudes, which could explain their support for Trump: "Historically, U.S. citizens (including the foreign-born) have been more likely to demand bars to immigration when the economy sputters and they experience more pressure on their day-to-day lives." Gift echoed this, explaining that, like other Americans, immigrants are feeling the economic pressure from illegal immigration, including "stresses on public services, housing shortages, and rising competition in certain labor markets." Beck, meanwhile, noted that immigrants are often the first to feel the impact of mass migration: "They tend to work in the same occupations. They feel the downward pressure on their wages, and witness the degradation of workplace conditions for themselves as well as new arrivals." 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Like other Americans, immigrants themselves are affected by many of the same perceived challenges associated with illegal immigration, such as stresses on public services, housing shortages, and rising competition in certain labor markets. These numbers show just how far Biden's alleged "open border policies" have shifted immigrants toward supporting the Republican Party." Maria Cristina said: "This poll as represented here in the video doesn't really tell me much, though. "Let's say these pollsters just focused on Latinos who are foreign-born citizens. You're likely to find differences across Latino groups and geographic regions. People of Mexican ancestry who live in border counties along the Rio Grande, for example, are likely more hawkish on immigration than, say, a Dominican American in Washington Heights in NYC. 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Or they might worry about the culture wars and feel that the Democratic party disregards their more religious or patriarchal values. There are many different reasons for the shift to the GOP. If so, voting GOP doesn't necessarily mean they liked Trump. Indeed, I'd like to see a polling question of GOP voters on whether they actually liked Trump." "But in the end, immigrants are most concerned about the economy and the opportunities they believe will be available to them." Jeremy Beck said: "Those are remarkable findings, although not entirely surprising. Whenever immigration levels spike, recent immigrants are among the first Americans to feel the impact. They tend to work in the same occupations. They feel the downward pressure on their wages, and witness the degradation of workplace conditions for themselves as well as new arrivals. They see the exploitation. They live in communities overwhelmed by unsustainable numbers. Mass immigration's strain on infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and homeless shelters affects foreign-born citizens directly and indirectly. "More people came to the U.S. between 2021-2025 than in any other period in history; more than half of them illegally. The shift in immigrant voters is part of a broader shift in American voters who live off of their wages as opposed to their stock portfolios. These immigrant voters were part of Trump's winning coalition in November and they delivered a decisive message to Washington, D.C. last November: Manage immigration at levels we can sustain, and credibly enforce the limits. Enten's polling should not be surprising to anyone who remembers the shift toward Trump in majority-Latino districts in South Texas. Or in Colorado's 8th district, which is 40 percent Latino, where two candidates campaigned on who was tougher on immigration enforcement. The border crisis was tied with inflation for the top reason voters did not vote for Vice President Harris; and thirty six percent of Latino voters cited immigration as a top concern. One out of four Democratic voters believe the Party deliberately open the border. President Trump willingness to enforce immigration laws gives him a clear advantage with these voters. Many immigrant voters who themselves work through a sometimes difficult legal process understandably rejected policies that led to a crisis in which millions of people who should not have been admitted to the U.S. were released into the country outside of the legal system established by Congress. "After the border crisis, voters are aware of how important it is to manage immigration policy in the national interest. The party that voters trust to fully enforce the law within the limits of the law has an advantage. The party that can set enforceable limits on immigration that serve the interests of immigrant voters could achieve a lasting realignment." What Happens Next Trump's approval rating among immigrant voters is likely to fluctuate. Meanwhile, coordinated nationwide protests against Trump and his administration's policies are also planned to take place in cities in all 50 states on the president's birthday on June 14.
Fox News
20 minutes ago
- Fox News
SEN CHUCK GRASSLEY: How Senate Republicans are restoring the rule of law and securing border for years to come
America is at a crossroads. During the Biden-Harris administration, over 10 million illegal immigrants – including violent criminals and potential terrorists – poured over our nation's border. After four years of chaos, Americans overwhelmingly elected President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a platform of securing the border, removing dangerous criminals and restoring law and order. Trump is standing on that platform and Senate Republicans are supporting him every step of the way. In Trump's first 100 days, illegal border encounters plummeted by 95%, illegal immigrant "gotaways" fell 99% and violent criminals and suspected terrorists were quickly removed from the country. During those same 100 days, Democrats fought to keep criminals in the country and took taxpayer-funded trips to El Salvador to defend an illegal immigrant who's facing charges of human trafficking, gang-related killing and domestic abuse. In the past week, thousands of rioters have taken to the streets of Los Angeles to violently protest ICE officers who are simply enforcing federal immigration law, as well as court-ordered search warrants. Rioters have lit cars on fire, looted mom-and-pop shops and attacked police officers with concrete slabs and Molotov cocktails. Yet Democrats insist the mob's actions are "peaceful." The nation is keenly aware of what happens when law enforcement is slow to respond to violent protests. During the Los Angeles riots of 1992, 63 people died, thousands were injured and the violence only stopped after the National Guard arrived. Thankfully, Trump isn't repeating the mistakes of the past. His quick decision to mobilize the National Guard protected innocent lives and valuable property. Hardworking and decent Americans know it's wrong to attack law enforcement officers, rob small businesses and break the law. While Democrat allies riot in the streets, Republicans are standing up for what's right. Today, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I released legislative text for my committee's section of the "One Big Beautiful Bill." The Judiciary Committee's provisions provide historic investments to strengthen our nation's border security and immigration system, support local law enforcement and protect American families from violence like we've seen in Los Angeles. It significantly boosts funding for local law enforcement and immigration agencies that were overwhelmed by the Biden-Harris administration's open border. The Department of Homeland Security will receive funding to hire more staff and enhance migrant screening and vetting processes, including background checks. It will also allow for the expedited removal of criminal illegal aliens and coordination with state and local governments to root out cartels and gangs. The costs of the judiciary section are offset by immigration application fees, which inject accountability into the immigration system. The Judiciary Committee's bill also preserves humanitarian protections by including fee exemptions for certain emergency or humanitarian purposes, and it makes fees paid by sponsors of migrant children 100% reimbursable, so long as the child safely appears in court as the law intends. When the Biden-Harris administration turned its back on border security, patriotic states stepped up to protect American communities. The Senate Judiciary Committee is giving these states the thanks they deserve by implementing the Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (BIDEN) Reimbursement Fund. The BIDEN Reimbursement Fund will help states recoup the dollars they spent investigating, locating, apprehending and temporarily detaining criminal illegal aliens. It also helps cover the costs inflicted on local courts for prosecuting crimes committed by illegal aliens, like drug and human trafficking. American taxpayers spent billions covering for Biden's border breakdown. It's time they were compensated for their losses. Despite Democrat efforts to defund the police, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans are unwavering in our support for local, state and federal law enforcement. That's why our legislation expands resources for these brave men and women in blue. While Democrat allies riot in the streets, Republicans are standing up for what's right. Finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee is advancing solutions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" to restore the constitutional role of the federal judiciary and ensure courts follow current law when handing down decisions. Our bill will provide funding to the Department of Justice to hire additional attorneys focused on challenging universal injunctions and require courts to track the frequency of universal injunctions. It will also establish judicial training programs on universal injunctions' lack of constitutionality and enforce the existing, lawful requirement that courts impose a bond upfront when attempting to hit the government with a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order that results in costs and damages ultimately sustained by American taxpayers. The rule of law matters, and Republicans are committed to enforcing it. I look forward to helping turn this legislation into law and deliver on President Trump's promise of a secure border for years to come.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LAFC fans stage anti-ICE protests as team stands in solidarity
Amid the Trump Administration's escalating response to protests over ICE raids in Los Angeles, soccer fans in the city are using the sanctuary of sports to stand together with the city's immigrant community. At Los Angeles FC games in particular, the team's independent support group — known as The 3252 — has seen a rise in anti-ICE tifos and signs during matches. The team itself showed solidarity with the protests in the stands in a pre-game message shared to social media on June 8 before taking on Sporting Kansas City. WORLD CUP RELOCATION RUMORS: Shoulder to Shoulder ✊ — LAFC (@LAFC) June 8, 2025 The 3252 remained silent in protest during the 3-1 victory before chanting 'L.A., Black and Gold. This is Los Angeles, ah-woo, ah-woo, ah-woo" during stoppage time. Here's what it looked like inside BMO Stadium: Appreciate for LAFC for showing everyone's Anti Ice signs during the what it's all about an FO that aligns with its supporters #lafc — Santiago Muñez (@mozkid8) June 9, 2025 'Abolish Ice' and 'Immigrants are the heart of LA' posters in the 3252 for LAFC. Camera cut to it, crowd went awaiting kick-off from LA. — Alex Swift (@AlexSwiftSports) June 9, 2025 LAFC fans staged a silent protest throughout their game against Sporting KC yesterday. 3252 supporters group messages of solidarity included a large "abolish ICE" banner and another reading "Immigrants are the heartbeat of Los Angeles", as seen on the Apple TV broadcast. — James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 9, 2025 "This has been a difficult moment for the city of LA," LAFC forward Jeremy Ebobisse said after the match. "I live downtown and I've been seeing and hearing everything that's going on. It breaks the heart to see the callous movements that we're seeing in our streets. "...We're a community, we stand by each other. It's important that in these difficult moments, we reaffirm that and don't back into our corners and be scared because solidarity is the only way through this. It's not normal and we can't treat it as normal. I fear it's only going to continue to escalate. I'm with the 3252 and anyone who's affected." ICE confirmed it would have a presence at Club World Cup games in the United States beginning this weekend. LAFC is slated to open CWC play on Monday, June 16 against Chelsea at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. While the department claimed it would be at CWC games to provide security, ICE said "all non-American citizens need to carry proof of their legal status". This article originally appeared on For The Win: LAFC fans protest ICE as team stands in solidarity
