In some locations, the demonstrations have escalated into clashes with law enforcement officers and led to arrests.
Protests that began in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement raids spread to more cities on Tuesday with more planned into the weekend.
Protesters have begun gathering in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Washington, and Chicago, calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting illegal immigrants.
In some locations, the demonstrations clashed with law enforcement, and were arrested.
Police officers in Austin, Texas, used pepper balls and tear gas to disperse protesters gathered outside the J.J. Pickle Federal Building after they refused to leave. According to the Austin Police Department, some protesters began throwing rocks at officers, and one protester spat in an officer’s eye after the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly.
As law enforcement attempted to prevent dispersed protesters from returning to the federal building, some individuals also threw scooters and barricades into public roadways, endangering public safety, police said.
“Officers contained the situation near [Seventh] Street and Congress Avenue. Multiple arrests were made, and the remaining protestors eventually dispersed,” the department said in a June 10 statement.
Four officers were injured in the unrest.
Activists are planning more—and even larger—demonstrations in the coming days, with “No Kings” events scheduled across the country on Saturday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on June 10 that the Trump administration remains committed to enforcing the country’s immigration laws despite the protests.
“ICE will continue to enforce the law,” Noem stated in a social media post. “If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In Philadelphia, about 150 people gathered at the Federal Detention Center on June 10 to protest ICE raids. Police said the protesters marched to ICE headquarters and used bicycles to obstruct officers.
According to police, protesters ignored orders to disperse, and the protest escalated when officers attempted to make arrests. Two officers were injured and treated at a hospital.
