Protest in San Antonio Against ICE Arrests

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Over 100 demonstrators gathered outside the federal immigration courtroom in downtown San Antonio, calling for an end to arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The rally, organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), was fueled by increasing apprehensions of undocumented immigrants.

The protest kicked off with a press conference. Speakers from PSD and various immigration rights organizations criticized the uptick in ICE arrests within the city, notably those that occurred on the federal court premises. Some participants held signs that drew comparisons between ICE and the Gestapo, and they called for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested in March. Khalil is a student activist and pro-Hamas protest leader at Columbia University.

Supporters also advocated for the complete abolition of ICE. As speakers addressed the crowd, flags were waved, including Mexican flags, and several attendees donned Kefiyeh scarves. Members of the San Antonio PSL distributed flyers in Spanish, warning immigrants about the potential for arrest if they attended court hearings.

The flyer advised immigrants, particularly those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years, to be cautious. It highlighted that if an immigration judge accepts an appeal against a rejection by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lawyer, individuals should oppose such cases. The document emphasized that an immediate arrest and expedited removal could follow if a lawsuit is dismissed.

U.S. immigration law stipulates that individuals found in the country within two years of illegal entry could face formal removal. The flyer also suggested that immigrants should present allegations of fear regarding persecution or torture to ICE agents if applicable to their case. Last week, several arrests occurred outside the court, which prompted Monday’s protest from the PSL.

Liliana Padilla, a pastor from the United Methodist Church, addressed the crowd, urging them to love their neighbors. With purple hair, she shared that she is an immigrant and has lived in America for 25 years, calling it her home. Padilla criticized ICE’s actions and spoke in Spanish.

Carolina Canisares, a leader with the Texas campaign at the Immigration Law Resource Center, also took the stage. She revealed that she had come to the U.S. as an undocumented child and had lived without documentation for over a decade. “I’ve been undocumented for 13 years, so I understand the fear felt by over 114,000 residents in our city today,” she told the attendees.

According to reports, the San Antonio ICE Field Office has intensified deportation operations in recent weeks. Notably, they recently discovered undocumented workers at a construction site on the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) campus.

ICE indicated that 275 undocumented individuals were arrested in San Antonio during a seven-day deportation initiative between May 11 and May 17. This increase in enforcement actions is part of a broader goal to achieve 3,000 ICE stops per day.

During a recent interview, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller confirmed the new goals for undocumented arrests, implying that the numbers could escalate.