ICE Raids Intensify in Democratic Cities, Sparking Protests and Economic Concerns

By Cliff Potts, WPS News

Over the past week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has escalated immigration enforcement operations in Democratic-led cities across the United States, prompting widespread protests, legal challenges, and economic disruptions. The Trump administration’s aggressive push for mass deportations, targeting cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, has led to thousands of arrests, heightened community tensions, and significant pushback from local leaders and activists.

Since June 19, 2025, ICE has conducted high-profile raids, with a reported 3,000 daily arrests as a goal set by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller (NBC News, 2025). In Los Angeles, raids targeted workplaces like Home Depot parking lots and clothing manufacturers, resulting in over 200 arrests in a single week (NBC News, 2025). Similar operations in Chicago and New York have focused on public spaces and businesses, with ICE detaining individuals, including some U.S. citizens, without clear identification or warrants, raising concerns about civil rights violations (The Guardian, 2025). Data from ICE indicates that only about one-third of detainees have criminal convictions, with many being nonviolent offenders or undocumented immigrants with no criminal record (NBC News, 2025).

The raids have triggered a wave of protests, with demonstrations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and New York drawing thousands. In Los Angeles, protests turned violent, leading to the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, a move criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom as unlawful (NBC News, 2025). A federal judge temporarily halted the National Guard deployment, citing federal overreach (NBC News, 2025). In Seattle, protesters clashed with police, who used pepper balls to disperse crowds after objects were thrown (CBS News, 2025). Activists, chanting “Abolish ICE,” have organized under the “No Kings” movement, planning further demonstrations to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C. (CBS News, 2025).

Economic impacts are significant, particularly in California, where one-third of workers are foreign-born. Businesses in Los Angeles’ produce markets report a sharp decline in customers, with vendors like Juan Ibarra losing thousands daily due to fear-driven avoidance of public spaces (Reuters, 2025). The brief pause in raids on farms and hospitality sectors, ordered by President Trump on June 16, was reversed days later, exacerbating labor shortages in agriculture and hospitality (The Washington Post, 2025). Economists warn that indiscriminate enforcement disrupts industries reliant on immigrant labor, with 13% of U.S. farm jobs held by undocumented workers (ABC News, 2025).

Local Democratic leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have condemned the raids as fear-mongering, emphasizing their cities’ sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE (NBC News, 2025). Legal challenges, such as California’s lawsuit against troop deployments, aim to curb federal overreach, while advocacy groups call for increased oversight of ICE’s tactics (The Guardian, 2025).

The situation remains fluid, with communities on edge and businesses struggling. As ICE continues its operations, the debate over immigration enforcement intensifies, balancing public safety claims against humanitarian and economic concerns.

References
NBC News. (2025, June 11). As immigration raids continue, ICE protests spread coast to coast. https://www.nbcnews.com
NBC News. (2025, June 9). How immigration raids at Ambiance Apparel and Home Depot led to the Los Angeles protests. https://www.nbcnews.com
The Guardian. (2025, June 16). Ice agents detain US citizen as LA immigration raids continue. https://www.theguardian.com
The Washington Post. (2025, June 16). Trump officials reverse guidance exempting farms, hotels from immigration raids. https://www.washingtonpost.com
Reuters. (2025, June 17). Immigration raids in Los Angeles hit small business owners. https://www.reuters.com
ABC News. (2025, June 19). ICE raids and their uncertainty scare off workers and baffle businesses. https://abcnews.go.com
CBS News. (2025, June 12). Protests against immigration raids continue to spread across the U.S. https://www.cbsnews.com