David Huerta, the president of the California division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), was injured and detained during a public protest against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Los Angeles on Friday, Spectrum News reported.
"Early Friday afternoon, a throng of federal agents amassed at what appeared to be an Ambiance clothing warehouse or corporate headquarters building near 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in the South Los Angeles area," said the report, noting that at least one person had a vest marking them as with the Drug Enforcement Administration. "Dozens of protesters also gathered at that location, and at one point, federal agents had to shove protesters out of the path of a van that was being driven into the building's parking lot. At least one protester was taken to the ground and arrested as the crowd gathered, prompting more shoving by agents to keep the group at bay."
One of the people injured in the chaos, and subsequently detained by ICE, was Huerta, per a statement from SEIU's executive director Tia Orr.
"SEIU California members call for the immediate release of our president, David Huerta, who was injured and detained at the site of one of today's ICE raids in Los Angeles," said Orr. "He is now receiving medical attention while in custody. We are proud of President Huerta's righteous participation as a community observer, in keeping with his long history of advocating for immigrant workers and with the highest values of our movement: standing up to injustice, regardless of personal risk or the power of those perpetrating it."
Los Angeles-based state Assemblyman Isaac G. Bryan condemned the arrest in a post on X, saying, "We are calling for his immediate release and the release of all of the protesters standing up for targeted communities."
Since President Donald Trump took office, ICE has stepped up raids and mass deportations around the country. A report earlier this week indicated that ICE agents are being ordered to "push the envelope" and develop new tactics to increase their arrest numbers.
