Widespread U.S. Protests Challenge ICE Deportation Tactics

Across various U.S. cities, protests and vigils have been held to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and policies perceived as harmful to immigrant communities. In Kansas City, activists protested the use of expedited removal, a process where immigrants can be deported without a hearing after an ICE attorney's motion to dismiss, often catching individuals unaware during court proceedings. In Massachusetts, multiple rallies, including one in Boston Common, called for state leaders to cut cooperation with ICE and criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, highlighting recent ICE arrests that have raised fears in local communities. Veterans and students joined these protests, emphasizing the threat to due process and constitutional rights posed by ICE actions. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a vigil in Putnam County spotlighted the county’s contract with ICE to detain immigrants without formal charges or judicial oversight, with local leaders accused of prioritizing revenue over rights. These events reflect widespread demands for greater protections for immigrants and accountability in ICE's enforcement practices.