This statement can be attributed to Wendy Chun-Hoon, executive director and president of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). 

Washington, D.C., June 9, 2025— CLASP is outraged by the Los Angeles ICE raids and the unlawful arrest of David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW, over the weekend. Huerta was assaulted, injured, and detained while advocating for immigrant workers. 

The LAPD violated L.A.’s status as a sanctuary city by assisting federal ICE agents in terrorizing neighborhoods, impeding people from going to work, attending their children’s graduations, and taking care of their families. Protests erupted on Friday in Los Angeles after at least 44 people were arrested by federal immigration agents that day. As a result, President Trump unilaterally deployed 2,000 National Guard members without consulting California officials to respond to the protests, violating the right to protest by using tear gas and other means to injure protestors. 

Immigration enforcement actions like these tear families apart and traumatize children. Research, including CLASP’s 2018 study on the impact of immigration policies on young children, has found that separation from a parent due to detention or deportation causes long-term harm to the health, economic security, and overall well-being of children, including U.S. citizen children. Massive raids also put an unnecessary strain on communities, including schools, child care providers, faith-based institutions, and other organizations that serve immigrant children and families. The administration’s actions in Los Angeles are yet another alarming example of its willingness to inflict terror across our communities and undermine the constitutional rights of citizens and noncitizens alike. 

The unlawful arrest, assault, and detainment of David Huerta for engaging in peaceful protest on behalf of immigrant workers’ rights is a violation of his constitutional rights. As SEIU California president, he was practicing solidarity to defend fellow workers. His arrest is an attack on communities, workers, and our First Amendment rights. 

We call on Congress and policymakers across the country to demand the release of Mr. Huerta and others arrested for protesting ICE’s actions, reject the administration’s lawless and reckless actions, and commit to protecting immigrant families and our Constitution.