Protest in San Antonio Over Immigration Raids
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A small group of locals gathered in San Antonio to protest a raid that resulted in the arrest of around 150 undocumented individuals. This action, carried out by law enforcement on Sunday morning, was linked to an investigation into the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua. A leaflet from the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) accused authorities of “kidnapping and detaining more than 150 workers.”
The protest took place Monday evening at the intersection of Bass Road and San Pedro Avenue. This location is not far from a makeshift nightclub that was raided earlier that morning by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and various local law enforcement agencies.
Some 70 residents took part in the demonstration organized by the PSL’s San Antonio chapter. They remained on-site for several hours, holding signs that conveyed messages like, “SAPD and ICE tear apart families,” and “Money for jobs and education, not deporting racists.” A few demonstrators waved large Mexican flags while others chanted against ICE’s actions.
The protest included a group that circled the intersection, expressing their displeasure with ICE’s deportation tactics before eventually dispersing. The law enforcement operation that sparked the protest was court-approved and focused on individuals with ties to the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. The arrests included citizens from Mexico, Honduras, and Venezuela, believed to be in the country illegally. The raid occurred near a food trailer that was also functioning as a nightclub.
The FBI, when asked about the raid, issued a statement confirming the involvement of various law enforcement agencies in an operation authorized by the court but did not divulge further details.
This demonstration occurred close to a now-defunct migrant shelter located on San Pedro Street. This facility was operated by the city in collaboration with several nonprofit organizations, including Catholic Charities, and had functioned during the last two years of the Biden administration, accommodating over 60,000 Venezuelan migrants.
Reports indicate that Catholic Charities of San Antonio received upwards of $50 million during the Biden administration’s border situation. In contrast, the Trump administration reportedly recovered more than $30 million from charities.
Since the shelter’s opening in July 2022, Venezuelans have represented one of the top nationalities housed in San Antonio, accounting for more than 60,000 individuals. Following them were Nicaraguans, totaling over 26,000. The shelter has provided refuge to migrants from various countries, including those classified as special interest aliens by the FBI and DHS.
The facility was closed shortly after President Trump took office, as he moved to terminate the “catch-and-release” policy set by the previous administration. At its closure, the shelter had received nearly $17 million in federal funding for emergency services from the Biden administration.
