(LOS ANGELES) Protesters rallied again this week outside major federal sites tied to removals, from Central Louisiana’s high‑throughput deportation hub to downtown Los Angeles. Many chanted “It’s kidnapping,” accusing ICE of tearing families apart.
Organizers say the gatherings are a direct answer to stepped‑up raids and transfers that began in early summer. As of August 11, 2025, demonstrations continue in multiple states, with crowds trying to slow buses and spotlight how people are moved from arrest to deportation.
Current actions and locations
- In Los Angeles, actions that began after June 6 sweeps have hardened into near‑daily protests near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Some nights saw scuffles as groups tried to block transport vans.
- Chicago and Seattle saw similar scenes around immigration courts and federal buildings, where people linked arms at entrances to delay detainee movement.
- Larger “No Kings” weekend marches drew tens of thousands in Los Angeles and spread to other cities over June and July.
Advocates in Central Louisiana (Cenla) gathered near a major detention and transfer site widely described by organizers as a key deportation hub. They argue high‑volume transfers there mirror what’s happening in bigger coastal cities.
Why this surge is happening now
A late‑January policy shift set the stage.
- DHS expanded cross‑agency participation, giving more federal officers Title 8 arrest powers to support ICE. That move sped up workplace and street operations nationwide.
- After the June 6 sweeps in Los Angeles, images of detainees being loaded onto buses triggered wider outrage and solidarity actions.
- President Trump later ordered National Guard and Marines into Los Angeles over objections from California leaders. That federal deployment deepened tensions and grew the protests.
The “kidnapping” charge
Demonstrators and civil‑rights groups describe some arrests as feeling like abductions.
- They report people with no criminal history being taken at work or outside homes.
- Rapid transfers make it hard for families and lawyers to locate detainees.
- Advocates argue due process suffers when a person is moved quickly through a distant facility or deportation hub.
Federal officials reject the label. They say teams focus on people with prior removal orders or criminal records and that lawful arrests will continue regardless of protests.
“It’s kidnapping” is the rallying cry from many protesters, expressing how confusing, rapid transfers and dispersed detention sites leave families unable to find loved ones.
What Cenla’s protest means
“Cenla” refers to Central Louisiana, a region long tied to the federal detention network.
- Louisiana hosts several large facilities used to hold and move people across the United States’ removal pipeline.
- While national headlines centered on Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, organizers in Cenla followed the same playbook: show up where buses run and raise the political and practical cost of quick removals.
Government response and authority
- DHS’ January 23, 2025 memorandum expanded who can arrest under immigration law, accelerating operations with multi‑agency teams.
- The administration says enforcement will proceed and will not pause for demonstrations.
- California officials—including the governor and Los Angeles city leadership—blasted the military deployment as overreach.
- Local police and federal officers have managed protest lines, declared unlawful assemblies at times, and kept transfer roads open.
Impact on families and legal access
- Higher arrest risk: Undocumented people face more encounters in public spaces and at work.
- Harder to reach hearings: Courthouse access can be restricted on protest days; people may miss hearings or struggle to meet lawyers.
- Transport delays: Blocked gates can slow buses, but can also prompt rerouting to further facilities, adding confusion for families.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the mix of rapid transfers and dispersed detention sites makes it easy for families to lose track of a loved one for days. That gap fuels the “kidnapping” language and intensifies public anger.
Practical steps if someone is detained
Act fast, write clearly, and keep records. These steps can help:
- Find the right ERO office. Use ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations field office page to locate contacts for custody checks and bond windows: https://www.ice.gov/contact/ero.
- Gather basics: full name, A‑Number (Alien Registration Number), date of birth, country of birth, and last known location. Keep copies of any prior orders.
- File a lawyer appearance. An attorney can submit Form G-28 (Notice of Entry of Appearance) so ICE and the court must speak to counsel: https://www.uscis.gov/g-28.
- Consider Form I-246 (Application for Stay of Removal) for urgent stops when removal is imminent. Check ICE instructions and filing rules by field office: https://www.ice.gov/how-to-file-stay-removal.
- Update addresses fast. If the person moves facilities or the family moves, file Form EOIR-33 to update the immigration court address: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/form-eoir-33.
- Call the EOIR case info line to confirm hearing status. If protests close a courthouse, ask the court about new dates and access rules.
- Do not sign unknown papers. Ask for an interpreter. People have the right to stay silent about immigration status beyond their name and basic biographical details.
Tip: Keep a “go folder” with IDs, A‑Number, copies of past orders, proof of family ties, and emergency phone numbers.
How deportation hubs work
High‑throughput facilities receive people from workplace arrests, home arrests, or transfers from local jails. From there:
- Some face expedited removal if they lack a prior court process and don’t claim fear.
- Others go to immigration court. Protesters often gather outside these buildings to slow bus departures or draw media attention.
- People with final orders may be staged for flights, sometimes at short notice.
That is why demonstrations target chokepoints: the deportation hub and nearby federal buildings are where most movement happens.
Multiple perspectives
- Federal view: Operations target people with criminal histories or prior orders. Officers say they use lawful authority and will continue.
- State and city leaders in California: They argue military support for civil enforcement raises the risk of violence and tramples state roles.
- Immigrant‑rights groups: They frame mass removals as a human rights issue, call quick transfers without counsel access abusive, and organize blockades to force a slowdown.
What to watch next
- Weekend surges: Expect bigger crowds on Saturdays and around high‑profile events.
- Court fights: Lawsuits and local legislation may test the January authority expansion.
- Transport patterns: If entrances are blocked, buses may use earlier routes or different facilities, making family tracking harder.
Bottom line for families and employers
- Plan now: Know the nearest ERO office, a trusted attorney, and how to reach court hotlines.
- Keep documents ready: A‑Number, prior orders, any pending applications, and identity records.
- Share calm, correct info: Rumors spread fast during protests. Check official notices and lawyer updates before making choices.
Protests remain a moving target—sometimes peaceful, sometimes tense—but the policy track is clear: federal enforcement stays high, and ICE transfers continue even when streets fill. Families who prepare documents, use the right forms, and stay in touch with counsel stand a better chance of slowing a removal and keeping cases on track during this turbulent season.
This Article in a Nutshell
Protests over rapid ICE transfers grew after June 6 sweeps, highlighting deportation hubs and family separations. Advocates call actions “kidnapping”; federal expansion of Title 8 on January 23, 2025 accelerated arrests. Organizers target buses, courts, and hubs to delay removals while families scramble for legal help and tracking.
