Breanna Reeves
Thousands of California residents took to the streets on Feb. 3 in a show of protest against President Donald Trump’s authorization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to raid schools, churches and hospitals, in order to arrest undocumented immigrants.
From San Francisco to Los Angeles to San Bernardino, thousands of business owners, students and allies participated in a “A Day Without Immigrants,” a national demonstration and boycott to show the significance of immigrants and undocumented residents’ contribution to the U.S. economy. The boycott first started in 2017, during Trump’s first presidency, when he called for the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Demonstrators in San Bernardino began to gather on the morning of Feb. 3 at Baseline Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue. The crowd grew to about 300 people by 8:45 p.m. and moved down Baseline Street toward the 215 Freeway, according to a press release from the San Bernardino County Police Department. Similarly, demonstrators in Los Angeles marched down the 101 Freeway, forcing the highway to close. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order to those protesting ICE and Trump’s attack on immigrant communities.
“My office is actively monitoring the protests downtown,” Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass posted on X. “Angelenos have the right to express their First Amendment rights, but it must be in a safe and lawful way. L.A. is a city of immigrants and we will protect all Angelenos.”
In San Bernardino, police officers stated that individuals in the crowd “ began throwing objects, including rocks, and bottles, and launched fireworks at officers” and “vandalized several police vehicles,” according to the press statement. Officers issued dispersal orders.
“At least five officers were injured from the assault. To restore public order, ensure the safety of the community, and prevent further injuries, officers deployed less-lethal munitions as well as chemical agents to disperse the crowd. Following these actions, the crowd began to disperse,” the press release stated.
These protests against ICE raids come after acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive that rescinded the Biden Administration’s guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which now allows ICE agents to raid churches, schools and hospitals.
In a Facebook post, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department addressed “false information” that was spread on social media, asserting that the department is participating in immigration raids with ICE agents. The department denies these claims, citing Senate Bill 54, “California Values Act,” which prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting with federal immigration enforcement.