Protests over immigration raids intensify before Trump’s military parade; arrests and security fears escalate nationwide.

Immigration Protests Spread Ahead of Massive Parade

Thousands of demonstrators rallied across the United States this week in opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, fueling growing unrest just days before a historic military parade in Washington, D.C. The protest wave follows recent ICE raids in Los Angeles and the deployment of U.S. troops to suppress related demonstrations.

The $45 million military parade, scheduled for Saturday, marks the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday. The event will feature tanks, helicopters, and troop carriers moving through the capital. While protest plans remain unclear, officials say nine demonstrations are scheduled across D.C., prompting security concerns as tensions mount nationwide.

President Trump responded defiantly, warning demonstrators not to interfere. “I haven't even heard about a protest, but [there are] people that hate our country,” he said, vowing that anyone who disrupts the event “will be met with very heavy force.”

Protesters Demand Justice Amid ICE Crackdown

Peaceful crowds in Washington gathered near the Justice Department on Monday to denounce the administration’s immigration enforcement. Protesters included labor and immigrant rights groups demanding the release of David Huerta, a union leader arrested during Los Angeles protests and later hospitalized with injuries. Huerta has since been charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer, which carries a potential six-year prison sentence.

SEIU Capital Area vice president Jaime Contreras criticized the administration’s ICE actions, stating, “All they want is to provide a better life for their family, which is why your ancestors came to this country.” Demonstrators marched through downtown D.C., shouting slogans like “Pam Bondi, shame on you!” and drawing attention from workers at the FBI’s headquarters nearby.

Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-WA, addressed the crowd, declaring, “Enough of these mass ICE raids that are sweeping up innocent people of every legal status, tearing apart families and our communities.”

The protest coincided with the formal start of Trump’s expanded travel ban, which restricts entry from 12 nations and imposes partial limits on seven others. Attendees expressed concern over the policy’s chilling effect on migrants, especially those awaiting visas from now-banned countries.

Nationwide Clashes and Escalating Rhetoric

While demonstrations in Washington remained largely peaceful, other cities reported arrests and confrontations. In New York and Texas, protests led to clashes with law enforcement, resulting in dozens of arrests. Organizers pledged continued resistance, chanting “We’ll be back.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended ICE operations, warning protesters that violence against officers would be prosecuted fully. “ICE will continue to enforce the law,” she stated on social media, underscoring the administration’s resolve.

With the parade approaching, officials are on high alert, balancing celebration with heightened security. Though no disruptions are confirmed, the convergence of military display and widespread protest has turned the capital into a flashpoint amid deepening national division over immigration policy.