On June 9, unions hosted a rally on the steps of the Minnesota state capitol to call for the release of David Huerta and an end to raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Photo by Amie Stager.
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On Monday, union members and leaders gathered at over 30 actions across the United States, calling for the release of SEIU California president David Huerta and an end to workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Friday last week, federal agents detained Huerta, allegedly injuring him in the process, as he was observing an immigration raid on a garment warehouse outside of Los Angeles. Huerta was released on Monday evening after the solidarity actions and many unions including SEIU and the AFL-CIO published statements, but he still faces federal charges of conspiracy for allegedly obstructing federal agents.
In St. Paul, Minn., more than 100 people from multiple unions and community groups joined thousands across the U.S. in these actions. They gathered on the steps at the state capitol to demand Huerta’s release and an end to ICE raids on workers and immigrant communities.
“Every individual deserves to be safe at work, at their homes, and in their communities,” said SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa president Jamie Gulley at the capitol rally. Two other SEIU presidents spoke: Kelly Gibbons of SEIU 284, which represents education support staff, and Greg Nammacher of SEIU Local 26, which represents property service workers.
“Huerta was doing what we all do as labor leaders, we protect workers’ rights and freedoms,” said Gibbons.
As people gathered outside the capitol, the state legislature was conducting a special session inside. Lawmakers had just voted on a bill repealing healthcare for undocumented people. “This is an especially hard moment, because just a few hours ago, many immigrant families lost healthcare for their own family members,” said Nammacher. “This is a moment when just a week ago we had similar raids, combined activities with local police, and national and federal agents here on Lake Street just miles away.”
The labor movement has been turning solidarity into action through mobilizing rapid response networks. Last week on Tuesday, June 3, Workday Magazine was on the scene as hundreds of community members including union leaders and members protested a multiagency federal law enforcement operation at a Mexican restaurant on Lake Street in South Minneapolis. According to federal authorities, they were conducting a criminal search warrant into drugs and money laundering, however, many community members remain concerned and vigilant.
Leaders say the removal of workers from communities would lead to devastation. “We demand David’s release, and all of the other individuals caught in these cruel, military-style, aggressive ICE raids happening all over the country,” said Nammacher. “We call on elected officials, all of them at the national level and at the state level and at the city level to stand with working people at this moment, defend our communities, and all of us who make this a better place.”
Also in attendance at the rally was Keith Ellison, one of 20 state attorneys general suing the Trump administration for attempting to withhold funding to states that refuse to comply with Trump’s immigration agenda. “We know that Trump is an authoritarian and we know that all authoritarians attack labor. But when labor stands up united, that’s the spine of the movement,” Ellison said to Workday Magazine. “When you have labor leaders saying no, you’re gonna have faith leaders saying no, and then maybe some business leaders saying no.”
Leaders also denounced ICE’s denial of entry to members of Congress in California and New York who were seeking to check on constituents detained in the protests, and President Trump’s sending of the California National Guard to Los Angeles.
ICE is reportedly still conducting immigration raids throughout Los Angeles as protests continue.
“Whether it’s on Lake Street or all the way in Los Angeles, you can count on the labor movement to keep raising our voices and keep standing up for our fellow workers in the face of injustice,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO president Bernie Burnham. “We refuse to let ICE in their masked, secret police cosplay uniforms intimidate us.”