Protests against ICE take to the streets across the US

Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the United States have spread to all 50 states and continue for the second day in a row, with thousands of people returning to the streets this Sunday (1st). The acts persist in cities such as Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other state capitals.

President Donald Trump has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in cities run by Democrats without an explicit request from local authorities.

The wave of protest began yesterday, when 300 public events mobilized tens of thousands of people across the country. Throughout the weekend, major American cities were marked by marches, vigils and strikes. Protesters challenge the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, exacerbated by Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, which intensified the persecution of immigrants and resulted in the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Protests want ICE out of everywhere
The protests, under the slogan “ICE Out of Everywhere”, include school strikes, shopping boycotts and business closures in 46 states, mainly in the cities of Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

National strikes and strikes occurred on Friday (30). Despite the intense cold in Minnesota, benefit concerts were held in support of the protesters with the participation of American music stars, such as Bruce Springsteen.

In the American Congress, the budget impasse linked to ICE funding causes a partial government shutdown.

Liam Ramos case: symbol of outrage

A federal judge ordered the release of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy detained with his father at an ICE center in Texas, criticizing the “cruelty” and disregard for constitutional principles in the agency’s actions. The father, an Ecuadorian who entered legally under 2024 asylum rules, was charged with illegal immigration by the Department of Homeland Security; Both were released on Sunday (01). The case amplifies public fury, with Representative Joaquin Castro escorting the family back to Minnesota.

Cities with Biggest Protests

The largest and most visible acts are concentrated in Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, which have become centers of the national wave of mobilizations. Other cities with large concentrations include Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

So far, there is no record of new deaths linked to ICE actions after the latest episodes in Minneapolis. At the same time, several lawsuits challenging Operation Metro Surge and other immigration policies of the Trump administration continue in court. One such case is the state of Minnesota’s request to suspend the operation. The request, however, was rejected by a federal judge, allowing the mass deployment of immigration agents to the state to remain in effect while the legal dispute continues.

The combination of the advancement of these processes, the tightening of ICE actions, the budget shutdown in Washington and pressure from the streets are deepening President Donald Trump’s domestic crisis.