For Immediate Release: June 9, 2025
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Hispanic Federation Defends Los Angeles Protesters and Demands End to Militarized Immigration Enforcement
Los Angeles, CA – This past weekend, the Los Angeles community mobilized to push back on an increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement apparatus. Rather than reassessing the approach, the White House escalated the situation by deploying the National Guard, instilling fear, and creating a hostile environment for people in Los Angeles. As a part of this escalation leading members of the community, such as David Huerta, President of SEIU California, were injured and detained. The recent news comes as Hispanic Federation plans to convene leaders to commemorate the launch of its office in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation.
“These protests are protected by our freedom of expression and the use of the National Guard is meant to instill fear and chaos eerily resembling the likes of anti-democratic regimes. It is even more concerning to see how protesters, including members of our partners at CHIRLA and BSP, were detained and injured as they exercised their right to express their opposition to overreaching immigration enforcement and lack of due process. Rather than listening to the concerns of people in Los Angeles, CA Governor Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass and working to de-escalate the situation, we are only seeing a doubling down on the militarized response. This weekend’s violence against protestors is an indicator of how this administration will continue to escalate their actions against U.S. citizens and immigrants. The Trump administration’s indiscriminate targeting of children, mothers, fathers, workers – all immigrants – shows the need for Congress and community to peacefully band together to push back against these actions.
As this news breaks, Hispanic Federation is preparing to gather with our partners in Los Angeles—united in purpose and urgency—to confront the federal overreach threatening our communities and to chart bold, collective strategies to fill the void left by cuts to critical programs. We stand firmly with our partners on the ground who are defending immigrant and Latino communities—and we unequivocally support their right to reject overreaching policies that seek to criminalize and dehumanize our people. Now it is the responsibility of Congressional as well as state leaders to block the executive branch’s attempt to violate the rights of people for the sake of scoring political points.”
German Cash, California State Director at Hispanic Federation, added:
“The story of Los Angeles is inseparable from the story of immigrants—who have built, sustained, and enriched this city for generations. Any attempt to vilify or remove immigrants from our communities ignores just how integral they are to our schools, businesses, and cultural life. Angelenos know this truth, which is why we are unapologetic in our defense of immigrant communities and outraged by the violence and intimidation we are witnessing in our streets.
I’m especially grateful for the courage of leaders like David Huerta, who stood on principle in the face of executive overreach and was met with force instead of dialogue. His treatment, and that of so many others, is unacceptable. If we are to move forward as a just society, we must unite in defense of our communities—and ensure that no one is persecuted for standing up for justice and human dignity. Washington must hear this clearly: any immigration policy that denies the humanity of our neighbors will be firmly and collectively rejected by the people of Los Angeles.”
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.
