Protesters take to the streets of several US cities in new protests against ICE and Trump

In the USA, thousands of protesters protest against Trump’s immigration policy Thousands of protesters filled the streets of several cities in the United States this Friday (30) to denounce immigration operations and the policies of the Trump administration, in an act that took on national proportions. A significant number of masked police officers monitored the protest. The outrage provoked by the deaths of two American protesters shot by federal agents continues to mobilize the country. Large protests were recorded from the state of Washington, in the far west, to New England, on the opposite side of the country, in cities such as Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Atlanta, Portland, Detroit and many others. Businesses and restaurants closed their doors in solidarity with the protesters. Students abandoned classes to take to the streets. In Arizona, some schools canceled the school day in anticipation of mass absences. Protesters marched despite the intense cold, at -17°C, with signs critical of President Donald Trump and ICE, the federal immigration agency, whose aggressive methods are contested. Protesters scream at a demonstration against ICE in Texas on January 30. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian A protester confronts police during a protest against ICE in Los Angeles on January 30. REUTERS/Jill Connelly “I live here (…) and I don’t think our government should terrorize us like this,” Sushma Santhana, a 24-year-old engineer, told AFP. “We’re trying to get them out of here,” added Connie, another protester, referring to the anti-immigration agents. One of the dead, nurse Alex Pretti, shot ten times by ICE agents on January 24, was labeled a “troublemaker” by Donald Trump. In Minneapolis, rock legend Bruce Springsteen took the stage to sing a song in honor of the victims. The 76-year-old singer composed the song after Alex Pretti’s death. On his Truth Social platform, the president condemned the nurse’s “display of violence” in a viral video showing him resisting arrest by federal agents 11 days before his death. Video shows fight between ICE and Alex Pretti, a week before the nurse was killed After talking in recent days about “de-escalation” and indicating, through his envoy Tom Homan, that he could reduce the number of agents carrying out raids in Minneapolis, Trump launched another virulent attack against protesters this Friday: “insurgents” and “agitators financed by professional rebels”, he declared. Tom Homan told Fox News that Donald Trump still intends to “proceed with the mass deportation” of immigrants. Arrest of journalists Two American journalists were arrested in connection with coverage of the recent protests, said Attorney General Pam Bondi, who boasted on X that she had “personally” overseen the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon. He is being sued for obstruction of religious freedom for covering a protest at a church in Minnesota, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Journalist Don Lemon, former CNN anchor, talks to the press after leaving the US Federal Court, where he is being sued for involvement in protests in Minnesota. REUTERS/Jill Connelly Other people, including a freelance journalist, were also arrested. All have been released, according to American media, although Don Lemon is scheduled to appear in court in Minneapolis in early February. “I’m not going to stop now,” he declared. “It has never been more important to have a free and independent media that brings the truth to light and holds the powerful to account.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned a “blatant attack” on the press. Sarcastic and bitter, the Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom, one of the main opponents of the Trump administration, commented on X that Russian President Vladimir Putin “would be proud” of what is happening in the United States. Civilian deaths Protesters at the “ICE Out” protest in Minneapolis on January 30. REUTERS/Tim Evans The US Department of Justice announced that it has opened a new investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, focusing on the violation of his fundamental rights. The institution emphasized that this is a “standard” procedure. Before Alex Pretti, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, was killed on January 7 by an ICE agent. Opponents of this policy continue to mobilize from New York, on the east coast, to Los Angeles, on the west coast, gathering around a thousand people on each occasion.

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