President of California’s largest union arrested whereas observing ICE raids in LA | EUROtoday

Labor chief David Huerta was detained whereas observing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids happening in Los Angeles.

The Service Employees International Union California (SEIU) says that its president was injured in the course of the ICE raids and is asking for his launch, NBC4 Los Angeles stories.

“SEIU California members call for the immediate release of our President, David Huerta, who was injured and detained at the site of one of today’s ICE raids in Los Angeles. He is now receiving medical attention while in custody,” Tia Orr, Executive Director of SEIU California, stated.

Mayor Karen Bass informed NBC4 that Huerta had been pepper-sprayed in the course of the incident.

“He is doing ok physically, but I know what really impacted him the most was the emotional trauma of watching parents and kids being separated,” Bass stated. “He’s going into ICE custody and we hope to get him out very soon.”

The mayor stated she doesn’t know why Huerta is being detained.

The SEIU issued an announcement supporting Huerta, insisting that he was “exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity.”

“We are proud of President Huerta’s righteous participation as a community observer, in keeping with his long history of advocating for immigrant workers and with the highest values of our movement: standing up to injustice, regardless of personal risk or the power of those perpetrating it,” the union said.

Orr also condemned the ICE raids.

“We call for an end to the cruel, destructive, and indiscriminate ICE raids that are tearing apart our communities, disrupting our economy, and hurting all working people. Immigrant workers are essential to our society: feeding our nation, caring for our elders, cleaning our workplaces, and building our homes,” she stated.

Bass stated she goes to fulfill with immigrant assist teams to debate plans for responding to conditions just like the mass ICE raids sooner or later.

“My message to them is that we’re going to struggle for all Angelenos no matter once they acquired right here, whether or not they have papers or not,” she said. “We are a metropolis of immigrants, and this impacts a whole lot of hundreds of Angelenos.”

ICE arrested approximately 44 people in Friday’s raid, according to Homeland Security Investigations.

“Today, ICE officers and agents alongside partner law enforcement agencies, executed four ​federal search warrants at three location in central Los Angeles. Approximately 44 people were administratively arrested ​​and one arrest for obstruction. The investigation remains ongoing, updates will follow as appropriate,” HSI spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe stated in an announcement.