Mass Protests Erupt Across US Against Trump’s Deportation Plans: ‘A Day Without Immigrants’

On Monday, numerous businesses across the United States shut their doors in observance of “A Day Without Immigrants,” a protest against the mass deportation policies and other anti-immigrant measures proposed by Republican President Donald Trump.

Leading up to the protest, demonstrators filled the streets in various U.S. cities during what Pablo Manríquez from Migrant Insider described as “a weekend of resistance.” This included protests in major cities such as Arlington, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio in Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Idaho City, Idaho; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, Oxnard, San Diego, and Vista, California; New York City; Phoenix, Arizona; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Seattle, Washington; and St. Louis, Missouri.

In Los Angeles, protesters against recent raids and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) managed to block the 101 Freeway for several hours, as reported by CBS News. Later that day, approximately 250 individuals convened in Pacoima for another demonstration, where it was reported by the police that some participants blocked traffic by performing car stunts.

More protests were seen in Southern California on Monday, with demonstrators marching through downtown Los Angeles and assembling outside the federal courthouse in Santa Ana.

“We represent a community,” a Santa Ana protest organizer explained to an ABC affiliate. “We are also human beings who deeply care for our families and friends. We are here to advocate for our community, to fight and demonstrate that we are capable of much more than what they label us to do.”

The Chicago Tribune highlighted a rally in Waukegan on Saturday where hundreds marched with Mexican flags and placards stating: “No Raids, No Deportation,” “People United Will Defend Immigrant Rights,” “The People Will Overcome Trump’s Far-Right Agenda,” and “Know Your Rights.”

The newspaper quoted Giselle Rodriguez, executive director of Illinois Workers in Action, who stressed the importance of knowing one’s rights and sharing that knowledge:

“Do not open the door unless ICE has a warrant signed by a judge. Opening your door, whether at home or in your car, gives them permission to enter. Remain silent; you don’t have to speak to them. You have the right to an attorney, so get one,” advised Rodriguez.

Chicago’s ABC affiliate reported that various local businesses participated in Monday’s protest. Carmen Montoya, owner of Mis Tacos Mexican Food in West Lawn, expressed her family’s concerns about the growing fear among the Latino immigrant community, stating, “Like many others, we just want the chance to work without fear.”

Statements from additional businesses in the area were collected by Chicago’s NBC affiliate. An Instagram post by Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe in Northfield described the protest as “an important statement about the essential contributions of immigrants to our communities, industries, and everyday lives.”

Businesses in Washington, D.C., echoed this sentiment. According to an NBC affiliate, Republic Cantina shared in an Instagram story that “D.C. heavily relies on immigrants, who occupy crucial roles in our local economy, pay taxes, and enrich the community.”

“The recent policies that forcibly remove immigrants from their homes are not only inhumane but will also cause significant damage to communities and small businesses,” the restaurant added.

Additionally, Trump has pushed for more aggressive enforcement by ICE, attempts to end birthright citizenship, signed the Laken Riley Act, declared a “national emergency at the southern border,” and ordered preparations at the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to detain large numbers of migrants. Such actions have been criticized for their potential “catastrophic” economic impacts.

A lawsuit was filed by a coalition, including the ACLU, on Monday against Trump’s measures to halt the asylum process at the U.S.-Mexico border. The complaint highlights that the government is forcibly returning asylum seekers, including families, to countries where they face danger, without allowing them to seek the protections afforded by Congress.

Melissa Crow, director of litigation at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and part of the coalition, remarked that Trump’s administration has adopted extremist views, treating vulnerable families and children seeking refuge as a threatening “invasion.”

During Monday’s protests, participants aimed to counteract the negative rhetoric from the Trump administration by emphasizing the positive contributions of immigrants. For instance, The Columbus Dispatch reported that Toro Meat Market in various Columbus locations closed “in solidarity with our Latino community,” recognizing the essential efforts and sacrifices of immigrants.

In Oklahoma, Good Egg Dining’s restaurants also closed, with the company stating to The Oklahoman that “our industry and our communities thrive on the hard work, passion, and commitment of immigrants. They form the backbone of our kitchens, our service, and our culture. Today, we stand with them.”