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Columbus City Councilmember Barroso de Padilla denounces ICE cruelty, promises to protest
As protesters in California continue to clash with law enforcement over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla denounced the federal government's immigration crackdown and commended peaceful protesters.
"I stand in solidarity with brave individuals protesting in Los Angeles against the cruel and inhuman actions of ICE," Barroso De Padilla said.
She made the comments from the dais at the beginning of the Columbus City Council meeting on June 9 while wearing a T-shirt touting that she is the daughter of immigrants. Born in Columbus, Barroso De Padilla is a first-generation Cuban-American.
Barroso De Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the meeting that she plans to attend a protest planned for 6 p.m. on June 10 in front of City Hall.
Several pro-immigrant and left-leaning groups are planning the "ICE Out!" protest, including 50501, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus, the La Raza Movement, and the Columbus Democratic Socialists of America.
Related: As LA protests erupt, multiple demonstrations planned in Columbus this week
"These protests are a reflection of the pain and outrage felt by communities across the country who have been torn apart by unjust immigration policies," Barroso de Padilla said. "These protests are not just about opposition. They are a call to action for leaders at every level to defend immigrant rights, to invest in communities rather than criminalize them and to build a system that treats all people with compassion and respect."
Barroso de Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the council meeting that President Donald Trump's administration committed to deporting criminals, and the federal government has overreached.
Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council member denounces ICE raids, supports peaceful protest
