WASHINGTON, DC — Today, a coalition of national Latino and civil rights leaders held a virtual press conference to condemn the recent immigration raids in Los Angeles and the federal government’s decision to deploy military force in local communities, despite opposition from local officials and residents.
Over the weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — under the direction of the Trump administration — conducted large-scale raids targeting immigrant workers in Latino-majority communities including Westlake, Paramount and Compton. The coalition warned that the Trump administration’s latest actions of escalating anti-immigrant policies and militarizing our communities mark a dangerous path of government overreach that could severely damage our democracy and way of living.
“This should concern all Americans. Our right to protest and our right to free speech are being challenged. The assault on due process by this administration continues,” said Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS. “People may not think they have a stake in the fight over immigration, but they certainly have a stake in the evisceration of our basic rights and freedoms. We call on the courts to hold the Trump administration accountable for its unlawful actions, and we are also calling on Congress to place much-needed guardrails on its extreme and counterproductive immigration enforcement efforts.”
“The Trump administration’s extreme actions in Los Angeles are a direct assault on civil rights and democratic norms, and elevate the urgent need to stand up and defend communities — particularly black and brown communities — from unconstitutional overreach,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “This administration is using the power of the presidency to settle political scores and to silent dissent, while putting lives at risk and fanning the flames of division. Democracy demands dissent and we will not be silenced.”
“We stand firm with our partners in Los Angeles, as well as across the nation, in our resolve to continue pushing back on executive policies that harm our communities. Since 2019 Hispanic Federation has invested in grants to support nonprofits in California. Organizations on the ground are working on the frontlines to support our communities and now, more than ever, we must ensure that they are supported in every aspect. Hispanic Federation stands committed to investing additional resources to organizations so that our communities remain safe, vibrant and vital economic contributors to our economy,” said Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of Hispanic Federation
“What we are witnessing is not immigration enforcement, it’s political terror. These raids and military deployments are designed to instill fear, divide families and criminalize Latino communities for political gain. We’ve seen this type of authoritarian playbook before, in Latin America and around the world, and we know how dangerous it is when power is abused to silence entire communities. But let me be clear: we will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated and we will not allow this country to turn its back on its democratic principles. Latino Victory remains fully committed to organizing, mobilizing and building the political power needed to protect our communities. Our fight is not just about today, it’s also about defending the future of this country for the next generation,” said Katharine Pichardo, Latino Victory Project president & CEO.
“The ICE raids across the country have been inhumane, unjust and fly in the face of everything we stand for as a nation,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of National Action Network (NAN). “What has unfolded, from the deployment of military personnel to attacking peaceful protesters, flies in the face of the First Amendment and the foundation of our nation. We must make our voice heard peacefully, and stand up for those who have not been heard. National Action Network’s Los Angeles chapter has been on the ground during these protests, which began due to the destructive policies of this administration.”
“What we’re witnessing in our nation is not about public safety, it’s abuse of power at the highest level. These cruel attacks are designed to terrorize Latino communities and distract from a failed political agenda. This is part of a coordinated campaign by MAGA extremists to criminalize immigrants, suppress our voice and dismantle the very foundation of our democracy. Across our nation, our communities are being targeted, and not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because they represent power, resilience and hope for a more just future. And that’s what MAGA fears,” said HéctorSánchez Barba, president and CEO, Mi Familia Vota. “We refuse to be silent. At Mi Familia Vota, our mission is to build Latino political power, and that means standing firm alongside our community, protecting our people and organizing everyday. We are not backing down. We will stay on the front lines fighting to make this a stronger and more inclusive democracy.”
Melanie Campbell, president and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and national convener of Black Women’s Roundtable, stated, “What we are witnessing in Los Angeles is not law enforcement, it is a dangerous and unjustified abuse of federal power. Deploying National Guard troops against the explicit wishes of state and local leaders is not collaboration, it’s occupation. When ICE raids start to look like military operations, and neighborhoods are being patrolled like war zones, we are no longer talking about immigration policy, we are talking about authoritarian rule. The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the Black Women’s Roundtable stand in full solidarity with our civil rights partners, the people of Los Angeles and with every community under siege across the nation. We must continue to use every legal, legislative and grassroots tool available to fight back, because this is not the America we know, and it is not the America we will accept.”
“The Trump administration is using immigration to create what increasingly looks like a police state. He is spoiling for a fight in order to erode the freedom of every American, not just immigrants. He is sending the national guard and the marines to Los Angeles and agents with military gear to intimidate our communities,” said Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director, America’s Voice. “And for what? To arrest hard working immigrants who pay taxes? To deport children, moms and dads? To stoke a confrontation to seize executive powers, bypass democratic norms, and militarize American communities? The assault on immigrants is a deliberate distraction from the problems most Americans are concerned about. Trump and his congressional allies know full well that their mega bill will gut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and give a windfall tax break to the richest of the rich. The American people want common sense solutions, not chaos and destruction.”
“This is a direct assault on everything the Civil Rights movement has fought for over the past 60-plus years. By Trump’s logic, demonstrators participating in the landmark 1963 March on Washington, which helped galvanize the nation’s conscience on civil rights, would have been put down through intimidation and militarized violence,” said Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “We cannot tolerate these escalating threats and attacks on the American people. As history has demonstrated, what keeps communities safe is not soldiers in our streets — it’s justice, fairness and compassion in our nation’s policies and treating our people with dignity. This is what communities deserve.”
“We are outraged by the immigration raids targeting Latino communities like Westlake, Paramount and Compton, and we unequivocally condemn this egregious assault on our community,” said Juan Proaño, CEO, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). “It’s clear these raids were planned and orchestrated by the Trump administration as a dangerous federal overreach. Deploying military force and ICE agents in our neighborhoods is an outrageous abuse of power that puts honest, hardworking immigrant families at risk. These immigrants are our neighbors — people who contribute to this country every day — yet their lives are being thrown into chaos and fear just to fulfill a cruel political agenda. LULAC will not stand by as our families are targeted and terrorized; we stand with our community and will fight to protect their civil rights and safety.”
“The arbitrary raids on immigrants are attempts to intimidate individuals into silently accepting acts of cruelty and corruption,” said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “This issue began with immigration, and the serious abuses against children, families and hardworking individuals will persist if we do not take a stand. We must not allow immigrants to be treated with cruelty or inhumanity, as this violates their rights. Such treatment poses a threat to all of our rights and must be stopped.”
“The unity of the civil rights, human rights and immigrant advocacy communities and all those who refuse to allow this administration’s authoritarian agenda to succeed is the only antidote to the poison threatening the health of our multiracial democracy,” said Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund. “The Legal Defense Fund is proud to stand in solidarity with UnidosUS and all those bravely speaking out against this administration’s cruel attacks on the immigrants who call this country home.”
“What we are witnessing today — from the streets of Los Angeles to policies coming out of Washington — is a calculated attack on immigrant communities who have long been the backbone of our economy and the soul of our society. Let me be clear: Immigrants are not outsiders — they are America. LA would not exist without them, and neither would our nation’s prosperity or cultural richness. The militarization and suppression targeting Latino communities is not just unacceptable — it’s un-American,” said Sindy Benavides, CEO of Aquí. “At Aquí, we stand in unwavering solidarity with immigrant families, workers and advocates demanding dignity and justice. We will not be silent. We will continue to unite, rise, organize and to hold power accountable — because this is our home, and our voices will be heard. Somos América.”
“NCNW will always stand on the side of due process. Treating all with dignity should be first to guide all decisions of this country. Our civil society is precious, as it is our civil liberties that form the legal foundation of our rights,” said Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). “This is the America we live in, for which we will always fight to protect. We cannot stand for this, as we are not operating under a monarchy or a dictatorship that allows such overreach.”
Speakers emphasized that this show of military force sends a chilling message — one that reverberates far beyond Los Angeles. Across the country, immigrant families are growing more fearful of seeking health care, sending their children to school or participating in civic life. These actions undermine community trust, stoke division and roll back decades of progress in civil rights.
To watch the full virtual press conference, click here.
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About America’s Voice
Follow Vanessa Cárdenas and America’s Voice on BlueSky: vcardenas.bsky.social and americasvoice.bsky.social and Twitter: @VCardenasDC and @AmericasVoice
America’s Voice – Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform. www.americasvoice.org
About Aquí
Aquí, The Accountability Movement is dedicated to combating misrepresentation, exclusion, and hate against Latinos. Through high-impact campaigns and grassroots advocacy, the organization empowers communities and holds institutions accountable for their actions. It amplifies authentic Latino voices and stories, fostering stronger representation in media and leadership roles. For more information on Aquí and its mission, please visit aqui.org.
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
About Latino Victory Project
The Latino Victory Project is a 501c4 organization that develops a pipeline of Latino leaders and shapes public discourse to reflect the growing influence of the Latino community while also building cross-constituency alliances that can move the country forward.
About Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nation’s leading lawyers as agents for change in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the Lawyers’ Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real. The Lawyers’ Committee implements its mission and objectives by marshaling the pro bono resources of the bar for litigation, public policy, advocacy and other forms of service by lawyers to the cause of civil rights.
About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America’s prosperity.
About Mi Familia Vota
Mi Familia Vota’s mission is to mobilize Latino power, through year-round activation of the electorate, and investment in local infrastructure, to advance our community’s policy priorities. Mi Familia Vota is fighting for a future where Latino voices shape and advance policies that promote the health, safety, and prosperity of Latino communities across the country.
About National Action Network
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
About National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of more than 350 campus and community-based sections and 37 national women’s organizations that enlightens, inspires, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and communities. It was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist, and for 40 years, the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height was president of NCNW.
About National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP)
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a leading organization dedicated to increasing Black civic engagement, political participation, and economic empowerment. Founded in 1976, the NCBCP’s mission is to create sustainable, impactful change by fostering inclusive and diverse leadership and policy advocacy that centers the needs of Black communities across the U.S.
About National Urban League
National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 92 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of nearly 4 million people annually nationwide.
About Legal Defense Fund
Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Equal Protection Initiative seeks to defend and advance the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause and anti-discrimination law so that we can all continue to advance equal opportunity for all. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957 — although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
About The Leadership Conference
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
About UnidosUS
UnidosUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Since 1968, we have challenged the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of over 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. We believe in an America where economic, political, and social progress is a reality for all Latinos, and we collaborate across communities to achieve it. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.orgor follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Xand Threads.
