Union officials said that California President David Huerta, the International Alliance for Service Employees, conducted an immigration enforcement raid in downtown Los Angeles on Friday and was detained and detained.
Huerta, 58, was treated at a hospital before being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he was still in custody as of 5:30 p.m., according to a union spokesman. Protesters sprayed the center with information such as “F-ice”, “burning prison” and “abolition of ice”.
“What happened to me is not about me; it's a bigger thing,” he said in a statement from the hospital. “It's about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that is happening. Diligent people, our families and members of our community are seen as criminals. We all have to collectively oppose this madness because it's not justice.”
Whirta was detained while exercising his First Amendment rights and documenting law enforcement activities, the union said in a statement. ”
But federal authorities say Holta intentionally blocked federal agents from visiting a workplace, and they executed an arrest warrant by blocking vehicles.
Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said agents executed four search warrants in Los Angeles on Friday.
“Let me know: I don't care who you are-If you block federal agents, you'll be arrested and prosecuted,” we Atty. “No one has the right to assault, obstruct or interfere with the federal authorities performing their duties,” Bill Essayli wrote in a statement on X.
Elected officials representing Los Angeles at New York City, county, state and federal levels issued a series of statements declining Holta's arrest, criticizing the attacks and condemning the Trump administration's escalation of deportation.
“SEIU California President David Huerta was hurt by federal agents and was wrongly detained,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I call on him to release immediately. It is a democracy. People have the right to protest peacefully, observe law enforcement activities and oppose injustice.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom calls Huerta a respected leader, patriot and advocate for the working people.
“No one will be harmed by witnessing government actions,” he wrote on X.
Huerta was arrested for allegedly interfering with federal officials and will be arraigned on Monday, Essayli said.
“There is no First Amendment that can prevent law enforcement officers from executing formally issued arrest warrants,” said Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights.
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) called on Huerta to release immediately, saying he was “furiously thrown to the ground” by Ice Agents.
“We are better than this, and every American should be shocked,” McGuire said in a statement.
O'Keeffe said that in addition to Huerta, 44 people were administratively arrested during Friday's immigration operation.
Hundreds gathered outside the federal building in Los Angeles to condemn the crackdown and demand Hota's release.
By 6:30 pm, more than 100 people gathered outside the downtown immigration service building and detention center, with several protesters wearing T-shirts that read “Ice Out of La”
Mandy Bell, a 65-year-old Koreatown resident, said she saw videos of the protests earlier that day and was eager to join.
“Immigration is not an enemy,” she said. “I don't think the raid will come here. It's so wrong, so I'll be here. I have to find out when the next protest.”
Los Angeles Police Department announces an illegal assembly and orders crowds to disperse around 7 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., about eight police cars and a group of about 50 police officers were closed in a group of protesters on North Alameda Street, while a group of protesters from high school shouted “shame” to the officers.
“We're here because people live in fear now,” a protester shouted to an officer. “You know one.”
