Coloradans hold protest to advocate for immigrants, call for an end to deportations
Saturday was the second time in less than a week that thousands of people gathered at the state capitol to protest current immigration enforcement in Colorado. The Denver protest was one of many across the country this week, following immigration operations by multiple federal agencies.
Wednesday morning members of the Department of Homeland Security conducted operations across Denver and Aurora they said targeted over 100 people connected to Venezuelan gang activity in the U.S. However, immigration advocates argue targeting neighborhoods and residential areas is spreading fear in communities already living in fear of deportation.
Protest organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation Katie Leonard said, "It's so important that when you see a massive show of force from ICE and all of these other federal law enforcement agencies on a Wednesday, you saw the same show of force, of masses of people come out to the streets that same Wednesday. It's really important that we show that the people here are standing with our immigrant communities."
Some protesters on Saturday, like Julian Neave, are seeing the effects firsthand. Neave said, "I'm just here for my family because my father is an immigrant and came to the U.S. to make a better life for us."
Others, like Sheila Urkquhartmoura, came out to show their support. "It's absolutely horrible in this day and time we are still fighting the same fight," said Urkquhartmoura.
Leonard explained why it's important to come together as a community, stating, "We are signaling to the country, to the world, that we stand with our immigrant neighbors, and we stand against deportation, and we want ice out of our communities."
Some protesters also fear that the recent operations are opening the door to bigotry and prejudice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Joe Rogan Speaks Out Against ICE Raids: 'That's Crazy'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Podcaster Joe Rogan has spoken out against ICE raids in a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, where he described them as "crazy" and said: "I don't think anybody would have signed up for that." Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Rogan via email outside of regular working hours for comment. Why It Matters Rogan endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and interviewed him on his podcast. He also attended Trump's inauguration. Trump campaigned on a hardline immigration stance, pledging to carry out the largest mass deportation in American history. Trump's administration has said it deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants in the initial months of the presidency. Many individuals have been deported following Trump invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, something which has been criticized and blocked by judges. ICE has been conducting raids around the country. Some arrests have been viewed as heavy handed while others have wrongly targeted people suspected of having no legal status in the U.S. The raids have led to nationwide protests. Joe Rogan looks on during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, 2025. Joe Rogan looks on during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, 2025. Elsa/Getty Images What To Know In an episode that aired on June 18, Rogan was joined by comic and writer Luis J. Gomez and Big Jay Oakerson, a stand-up comedian and podcaster. Rogan raised the topic of ICE raids, and said: "These ICE raids are f****** nuts man." Rogan then says he was watching a protest on television, and is asked by Oakerson if he thinks the raids are nuts, or the protests are. "All of it's nuts," Rogan responds. Gomez then says that he thinks both sides are "taking it a little too hard." "I don't think if the Trump administration, if they're running and they said, 'We're gonna go to Home Depot and we're gonna arrest all the people at Home Depot. We're gonna go to construction sites and we're going to just like tackle people at construction sites, I don't think anybody would have signed up for that," Rogan said. It's not the first time that Rogan has spoken about ICE raids. In an April episode of the podcast, he praised Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration but shared his upset at the news that the administration had deported a gay Venezuelan asylum-seeker along with a supposed member of the Tren de Aragua gang. "It's horrific," he said at the time, adding that it was "crazy," that this could have happened. A poll from Reuters/Ipsos conducted between June 11-12, which surveyed 1,136 Americans nationwide found that 52 percent of respondents (including one in five Democrats and nine in 10 Republicans) supported deportations of people in the country illegally. However, 49 percent of people in the poll said that Trump had gone too far with his arrests of immigrants, while 40 percent said he had not. The clip of Rogan speaking about the ICE raids has been met with a mixed response online. What People Are Saying Joe Rogan, speaking on his podcast: "They said, 'We're gonna get rid of the criminals and the gang members first'. And now we're seeing like Home Depots get raided. Like that's crazy." The Tennessee Holler, a media and news company wrote on X: "You were warned Joe. Yet you signed up for it." @bullriders1 on X: "Why does Joe Rogan have to start making sense?" @thatchthoughts on X: "That's exactly what I voted for. Mass deportations." What's Next Another round of anti-Trump protests is being planned across the U.S. for July 17. Among their goals are an end to "attacks on Black and brown Americans, immigrants, trans people, and other communities," according to protest organizers.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Who are these people?' Masked immigration agents sow fear in L.A., vex local police
Increasingly aggressive immigration raids carried out by masked federal agents, sometimes using unmarked vehicles, are creating problems for local law enforcement agencies. Police have little or no insight into where the federal enforcement actions are taking place but often have to deal with the aftermath, including protests and questions from residents about what exactly happened. In some cases, local cops have been mistaken for federal agents, eroding years of work to have immigrant communities trust the police. In Bell, chaos erupted when masked men arrived at a car wash and began detaining its workers, sparking a confrontation with residents and immigration rights advocates before they were forced to hastily drive over curbs and street islands to escape. In Pasadena last week, a man stepped out of his unmarked vehicle at an intersection, unholstered his pistol and aimed it at a group of pedestrians before returning to his car, turning on its red and blue emergency lights and speeding off. Video of the incident went viral. That incident left the police chief of Pasadena resigned to figure out whether it was a crime or part of a federal raid. 'There's no way for us to verify,' Police Chief Gene Harris said. The department reviewed surveillance footage and other video and saw the credentials on the man's uniform, according to the chief. 'We were able to determine that to the best of our estimation he was an ICE agent. ... We will not look into it any deeper than that,' he said. At Dodger Stadium last week, immigration agents staged outside the parking lot prompted protests and questions that local officials had to address. 'They show up without uniforms. They show up completely masked. They refuse to give ID,' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a news briefing after the Dodger Stadium incident. 'Who are these people? And frankly, the vests that they have on look like they ordered them from Amazon. Are they bounty hunters? Are they vigilantes? If they're federal officials, why is it that they do not identify themselves?' Ed Obayashi, a Northern California deputy and use-of-force expert, said federal agents enjoy great autonomy and 'can do what they want in their official capacity.' 'If they point a gun or take someone in, local police cannot step in and interfere regardless of the circumstances,' Obayashi said. He said that federal agencies have extensive use-of-force policies on drawing weapons but that, ultimately, if the overall directive is to take this action, then the guidelines don't matter. 'If Homeland Security says this is what we want, the policy guidelines when it comes to gun and force doesn't matter,' he added. 'There is little redress against federal law enforcement in the civil courts compared to local police.' Federal agents are not subject to the same statues as local police, namely Section 1983 claims that allow people to sue certain government agencies and employees for violating their civil rights. 'The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly shielded federal agents from legal repercussions,' Obayashi said. The incidents at Dodger Stadium, in Bell and in Pasadena unfolded more than two weeks after masked immigration agents descended on the region carrying out a wave of immigration sweeps in predominately Latino communities. Residents are on edge as masked men are appearing and detaining their friends, relatives and neighbors without any clear sign they are part of federal immigration enforcement and refuse to show identification or a warrant. The Pasadena incident showed how social media can amplify an incident and highlight the lack of response from local officials. In a video posted to Instagram from Pasadena, a suspected federal agent is seen exiting a Dodge Charger at an intersection and pointing his gun at members of the public. In the video, a person walks up to the back of the Dodge Charger and appears to take a photo of the license plate. That's when the driver gets out of the vehicle and points a gun at the person who was behind the vehicle, then toward another person outside of the video frame. The word 'Police' is visible on the driver's vest, along with a badge on his hip. After a few seconds, the man puts the gun away and gets back into the car as bystanders shout at him. The man then activates the vehicle's red and blue lights common to law enforcement vehicles and drives away. Citizens shared the vehicle's license plate on social media, which led to more questions than answers. According to Pasadena officials, the vehicle's license plate is a 'cold plate,' or untraceable, which is typically used by law enforcement in undercover criminal operations. 'One question is this a law enforcement agent or someone pretending to be a law enforcement agent, and there is no good answer here,' Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo told The Times. '[To] have a law enforcement agent draw his weapon and point it toward someone using their iPhone, and a crowd, is showing a lack of training and a lack of temperance in the use of force.' He's still hopeful that the federal government will acknowledge the incident and provide some clarity. As more immigration sweeps happen, Gordo is worried that there could be an accidental shooting or that police could end up caught in the middle if unidentified federal agents are pulling out their guns in public. Previous administrations informed the city of enforcement actions to avoid accidental confrontations between law enforcement, according to Gordo. 'Our police need to be aware of undercover or unmarked law enforcement operations. These operations are endangering everyone in our neighborhoods,' he said. If citizens do encounter a matter where it appears that someone is impersonating law enforcement, they should call 911, Harris said. But local police will not interfere with federal activities, he said. 'I understand the lingering fear in the community,' Harris said. 'I would tell [citizens] to defer to their own feelings, understand what's going on around them.' He added that federal immigration activities in Pasadena have not impeded local police efforts or response times. There have been no arrests, property damage or violence related to protests against the immigration sweeps in Pasadena, officials said. About an hour's drive inland in Fontana, the lack of clarity is making work harder for local police who have been mistaken for federal immigration agents. Officers investigating a recent burglary were mistaken for federal immigration agents over social media, Fontana Police Sgt. Nathan Weiske said. In another instance, undercover officers were confronted by protesters who thought they were conducting surveillance for an immigration sweep. 'It is not safe for our officers, or for others involved in any active police operations if misrepresentations or misunderstandings lead to inappropriate engagement,' Fontana Police Chief Michael Dorsey said in a Facebook post. In some parts of the Southland, the response to the immigration raids can be swift and fierce. In Bell, masked men in fatigues detained at least three people at a car wash, drawing a large protest. Dozens of people swarmed the area and shouted at the agents, 'Are you a bounty hunter? How much is the bounty for an illegal right now?' questioning their identities. Video showed the men, wearing fatigues and balaclavas and carrying long weapons, fire tear gas to disperse the crowd so they could leave. The Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol vehicles were damaged during the incident. Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores calls the federal government's presence in the region 'political theater' meant to antagonize the Latino population. Flores plans to introduce a motion to the City Council that will direct local police to ask federal agents to identify themselves if they attempt to carry out an immigration operation in the city. 'What happens if you have bad actors who decide to throw on an olive drab outfit and go around abducting people?' Flores told The Times. 'I would not ask our officers to interfere with federal matters. But we have to be prepared to hold these agencies accountable for their actions. There's a tragedy waiting to happen.'
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Disaster relief groups worry immigrants won't go to hurricane shelters amid crackdown
With hurricane season underway amid a massive state and federal push for deportations, some disaster relief groups are worried that fear of immigration raids could keep foreign-born Floridians from hurricane shelters this year — even as a storm threatens their community. The question popped up several times at a gathering last week hosted by the Miami Foundation to help nonprofits navigate sweeping changes to federal natural disaster management, including cuts to emergency funding and storm forecasting services. During a panel discussion at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Allison Thompson, head of Miami-based Third Wave Volunteers, asked whether Miami-Dade County would allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into any hurricane shelters that may be opened this year. 'We are very worried about ICE,' she said. 'Because immigrants are scared to go to shelters as is.' Jesse Spearo, assistant director of the county's emergency management department, told the crowd that shelters always have police officers there, but that law enforcement is only checking for weapons or drugs, which are prohibited. It's not county policy to check anyone's immigration status, he said. 'It's a concern that we have had conversations about within our communities,' he said. 'The shelters are always open for anybody. Doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. Doesn't matter, you're welcome.' American Red Cross, which co-operates most disaster shelters in Florida, also repeated that it doesn't consider immigration status when evacuees arrive. 'Red Cross shelters are open to everyone. They are safe and welcoming spaces for people of all backgrounds,' Tiffany Gonzalez, spokesperson for the South Florida region, said in a statement. For years, ICE has followed a formal policy that discouraged raids in protected places like schools, hospitals, churches and hurricane shelters. Under President Joe Biden, the federal government emphasized that to 'the fullest extent possible,' immigration officials would not conduct enforcement along hurricane shelters, evacuation routes, disaster assistance registration sites, or supply distribution centers. 'DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of a natural disaster or emergency event is able to do so regardless of their immigration status,' the Department of Homeland Security said ahead of Hurricane Milton last year. But this hurricane season, there is new uncertainty surrounding that policy. In January, the Trump administration rescinded that protected places guidance, sparking widespread condemnation and lawsuits — including one from 27 religious groups. 'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,' said a DHS spokesperson. So far, there have been no confirmed cases of ICE raids on churches or schools, and without any early-season storms, no shelters have been opened in South Florida or elsewhere in the state. There are other hurdles to immigration agents targeting shelters as well. Experts told the Herald they believe that ICE agents would need a warrant from a judge before entering a church or school and that would likely apply to hurricane shelters as well. READ MORE: Can ICE agents raid churches? Yes, but it's unlikely, say South Florida faith leaders, lawyers The Miami Herald reached out to ICE with questions last week about how the agency would handle shelters during hurricane season. The agency did not respond. Multiple law enforcement agencies in South Florida have also signed agreements with ICE to allow police officers to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants, including, most recently, the city of Miami. County jail operators, like Miami-Dade's Sheriff's Office, are required to join the partnerships with ICE by law. Miami-Dade, which provides security at many shelters, has also joined ICE's 'task force model,' meaning trained officers can question, arrest and detain people they believe are violating immigration law. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department also did not respond to questions about shelters but Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has previously stated that deputies will be focused on people who are committing crimes. While there have been no recorded incidents of ICE raids at a hurricane shelter in Florida, there have been past threats to target the facilities by law enforcement. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd drew heat ahead of 2017's Hurricane Irma for threatening to snag anyone seeking shelter who had an active warrant out for their arrest. A Virginia legal services group later sued the sheriff, saying that his statement caused them to re-route undocumented immigrants they were planning to send to the shelter to wait out the storm. Funding concerns Beyond the immigration questions, nonprofit groups in Miami-Dade said they were largely ready for any disasters that this season could throw at them — but there are lingering concerns about relief and recovery funding. The Trump administration has suggested dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal department tasked with responding to major disasters — but not until the end of hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 30. READ MORE: Florida says it's ready for hurricane season, with or without FEMA's help FEMA provides the majority of disaster relief funding in the U.S., both for individual survivors of a disaster and for local governments seeking reimbursements for the work of cleaning up after a storm or flood or fire. Already, the agency has begun cutting back on the amount of disaster aid it offers communities, pushing some South Florida municipalities to consider starting a new fund to sock away extra money ahead of disasters. Other nonprofit groups worried aloud that with diminished federal funding, they'd all be fighting over the same, smaller pot of private donations now. But Katy Meagher, CEO of Miami-based Neighbors for Neighbors, told the crowd gathered at the Little Haiti Cultural Center on Wednesday that banding together was the key to ensuring that Miami disaster relief nonprofits could continue helping locals this year, despite shifts in federal funds. 'We never used a dime of federal funding from our day of inception to today. For many, I know that's a fearful thing to lose, but we don't need it,' she said. 'I believe in us because we work together so collaboratively already.' In Miami-Dade, Spearo had good news to share about local disaster relief. The county's emergency management staff has nearly doubled in the last few years, thanks to recommendations from FEMA and the state that Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava took to heart, he said. Leonie Hermantin, director of special projects at SantLa, said her group helped pull off the first-ever community disaster training in Creole, after decades of only English or Spanish-language options. Hermantin said her organization also ran multiple focus groups to find out what the community knows about disaster relief and what resources they actually need, rather than simply assuming. 'It turns out a lot of people know what preparedness is, they just don't have the means,' she said. 'They can't go shopping for hurricane supplies. They're terrified of shelters. That's misinformation we need to correct.' Elderly people, in particular, think of hurricane shelters as 'brothels, basically,' she said. Other panelists, including Spearo, agreed that all research showed that the people most at risk when a disaster strikes are low-income people. 'I'm worried about our vulnerable population. The people that are hurting now, with $10 in the bank, with a medical condition, they are ten times worse off after a disaster. I worry about them,' he said. Miami Herald Staff Writer Syra Ortiz Blanes contributed to this article.
