David Huerta, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, was injured and detained on Friday while documenting an immigration enforcement raid in downtown Los Angeles, according to labor union officials. His arrest has led to significant protests and calls for his immediate release across the city.
At 58 years old, Huerta was taken to a hospital for treatment before being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he remained in custody as of late afternoon on the same day. Protesters gathered outside the detention center, spray-painting messages such as “F— ICE,” “Burn Prisons,” and “Abolish ICE” in response to his arrest.
In a statement from the hospital, Huerta downplayed the personal nature of his situation, asserting, “What happened to me is not about me; this is about something much bigger. This is about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that’s happening. Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice.”
According to the labor union, Huerta was detained while exercising his First Amendment rights to observe and document law enforcement activities. However, federal authorities accused Huerta of deliberately obstructing federal agents’ access to a worksite where they were executing a warrant by blocking their vehicle.
Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated that agents executed four search warrants across Los Angeles in connection with the suspected harboring of individuals unlawfully in the country.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the government’s stance, stating, “Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”
Huerta’s arrest drew widespread condemnation from elected officials across various levels of government in Los Angeles. County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated, “SEIU California President David Huerta was injured by federal agents and wrongfully detained. I am calling for his immediate release. This is a democracy. People have a right to peacefully protest, to observe law enforcement activity, and to speak out against injustice.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted that Huerta was a respected leader and advocate for working people, affirming, “No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action.”
Essayli further clarified that Huerta had been arrested on suspicion of interfering with federal officers, with an arraignment set for the following Monday. Harmeet Dhillon, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, reiterated the legal boundaries, stating, “There is not a First Amendment right to physically obstruct law enforcement officers from executing a duly issued warrant.”
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire called for Huerta’s immediate release, alleging that ICE agents “violently threw [Huerta] to the ground.” He added, “We are better than this, and every American should be alarmed.”
The immigration enforcement action resulted in the administrative arrest of 44 other individuals alongside Huerta, according to O’Keefe. The crackdown spurred significant public outcry, with hundreds rallying outside the Los Angeles Federal Building to condemn the actions of federal agents and demand Huerta’s release.
By 6:30 p.m., a crowd had assembled outside an immigration services building and detention center, with many protesters sporting T-shirts that read, “ICE out of L.A.” Local resident Mandy Bell, 65, shared her motivation for joining the protest, stating, “Immigrants are not the enemy. I didn’t think the raids would come here. It’s so wrong, so I’ll be out here. I gotta find out when the next protest is.”
As tensions escalated, the Los Angeles Police Department declared the assembly an unlawful gathering and ordered the crowd to disperse around 7 p.m. Shortly thereafter, police vehicles and officers in riot gear confronted a group of protesters, prompting chants of “shame on you” directed at the officers.
Demonstrators expressed their frustrations and fears over the raids, emphasizing the need for community solidarity during these challenging times.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-06/seiu-president-david-huerta-injured-arrested-during-l-a-ice-raids
