How Immigrants and Labor, Long Joined in L.A., Set the Stage for Protest

Unions have backed immigrant rights in California and have been on the forefront of resisting the Trump administration’s deportations.According to The New York Times, unions in California have been at the forefront of defending immigrant rights and resisting the Trump administration’s deportation efforts. This is not surprising, as Los Angeles is a city with a large immigrant population and a strong union presence.

The recent federal immigration raids in Los Angeles County sparked the largest protests against President Trump’s immigration policies to date. During these protests, David Huerta, the president of the California chapter of the Service Employees International Union and the grandson of Mexican farmworkers, was arrested and hospitalized after being pushed by a federal agent. His detention sparked nationwide mobilizations and calls for his release.

At a rally in front of the Justice Department in Washington, union leaders spoke out against immigration enforcement operations and demanded Huerta’s release. Liz Shuler, the president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., stated that the country suffers when families are torn apart by military raids and that the union community does not leave anyone behind. Huerta was eventually released on bail but still faces charges.

In the past, American unions have often viewed immigrants with suspicion, fearing that they would lower wages and not stand up to employers. However, union leadership has now aligned itself with immigrant rights and taken a stand against the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. 

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