Labor Solidarity in the Face of ICE Raids: David Huerta's Arrest Sparks Nationwide Solidarity

Strategic Insights -

California union leader David Huerta was arrested while serving as a community observer during a wave of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles. The harrowing video of Huerta's arrest shows officers shoving him to the ground, resulting in multiple injuries and a subsequent hospitalization. Huerta has been federally charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer, despite witnesses noting that he was there as an observer, which is perfectly legal. This incident is part of a larger pattern of police violence against labor solidarity, with a long history of reacting to shows of labor solidarity with violence.

Key Takeaways:

  • David Huerta, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California President, was arrested while serving as a community observer during ICE raids in Los Angeles.
  • The arrest was caught on camera, showing officers shoving Huerta to the ground and resulting in multiple injuries and a hospitalization.
  • Huerta has been federally charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer, despite being an observer, which is a legal role.
  • This incident is part of a larger pattern of police violence against labor solidarity, with a long history of reacting to shows of labor solidarity with violence.
  • The Trump administration is using immigrant workers as a political distraction to keep working people from focusing on the real problem: the ultra-wealthy individuals and corporations who are concentrating power and hoarding resources.
  • The labor movement in California has a multicultural coalition, with a long history of standing with immigrant and Latino workers.
  • California's union members have a higher share of foreign-born workers compared to the national average, with about a quarter of union members being foreign-born between 2021 and 2024.
  • The arrest of David Huerta demonstrates that the labor movement in California will stand with immigrant workers, even in the face of adversity.
  • The labor movement understands that when one group of workers is made vulnerable, all workers lose power, and that standing together is the only way to stop the heist.

Statistics:

  • About a quarter of California's union members were foreign-born between 2021 and 2024.
  • California has a higher share of union members born outside of the United States compared to the national average.
  • Between 2021 and 2024, the foreign-born share of the labor movement in the US increased.
  • Between 2021 and 2024, the number of union members in California grew to about 2.5 million.

Sources:

  • "David Huerta, California union leader, arrested during ICE raid" - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/09/la-protests-david-huerta-ice-raid
  • "David Huerta, SEIU California President, federally charged after being arrested during ICE raid" - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-huerta-seiu-charged-los-angeles-ice-protest-trump/
  • "California union leader David Huerta faces criminal charge for protesting ICE raid" - https://www.axios.com/2025/06/09/california-union-leader-faces-criminal-charge-for-protesting-ice-raid
  • "History of police violence against labor solidarity in Los Angeles" - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-16-me-33-story.html
  • "Trump administration expanding 'illegal' category by revoking protected status for Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans" - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/30/supreme-court-allows-trump-to-revoke-humanitarian-parole-for-530000
  • "California's labor movement has a multicultural coalition" - https://cepr.net/publications/foreign-born-workers-a-central-force-for-unions/
  • "SEIU, UNITE HERE, and United Farm Workers stand with immigrant workers" - https://www.seiu.org/2025/06/statement-seiu-president-april-verrett-on-david-huertas-release-from-federal-custody
  • "Immigrant workers as a political distraction" - https://inequality.org/article/new-stats-old-story-our-rich-are-raking/