Our Action Calling for the End of Immigration Raids and the Release of David Huerta Was Powerful

On June 9, over 100 SEIU Local 1107 members and community members rallied against the immigration raids happening in Nevada, California and across the country, and called for the release of our union family member, SEIU California President David Huerta. Our rally was part of a nationwide day of action.

The raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detention of David are part of an extremely alarming, tyrannical and un-American pattern of trampling constitutional freedom, denying basic legal due process, and intimidating people who are exercising their rights. Our rally got massive, widespread news coverage including:

• Las Vegas Sun: ‘Upping the ante against all of us’: Nevadans rally against Trump immigration crackdown, arrest of union leader in LA
• News3 Las Vegas: Immigration protest erupts at courthouse over SEIU president’s arrest
• KTNV Las Vegas: Las Vegas unions protest against immigration raids despite triple-digit heat
• KLAS 8 News Now: Nevada unions, elected officials rally in support of ICE protests

Our action was also mentioned in many national press outlets, including Time Magazine.

The national actions were spurred by an ICE raid in which agents injured and detained David, who was exercising his freedom to observe law enforcement activity. David, who is an American citizen, required hospitalization. Then, the federal government escalated its attacks on the Los Angeles community, deploying 2,000 national guard troops and using flash-bang grenades, armored vehicles, tear gas and aggressive force against residents.

Because of our rally and others across the country, David was released, but he still unjustly faces felony charges.

Before the rally, SEIU Local 1107 President Michelle Maese and Executive Director Sam Shaw issued a joint statement which read in part: “As the working class continues to struggle in our country, we refuse to be divided, to scapegoat the most vulnerable, or to fight each other over crumbs. We value and stand in solidarity with immigrant workers, many of whom are members of our union, who carry out some of the toughest and most essential jobs in our nation.

“The answer to the struggles facing working Americans is not to attack immigrants, but to make billionaires pay their fair share so everyone has good jobs with living wages; affordable healthcare, childcare and housing; quality education; retirement with dignity; and access to essential services. We demand that the federal government stop the cruel and destructive ICE raids that are tearing families and communities apart and disrupting our economy. It is time for all working people to rise up together to protect our freedom and fight for an America with dignity for all.”