Democrats Rally Behind SEIU President David Huerta After Controversial Arrest
In a recent incident that sparked both outrage and support, California SEIU President David Huerta was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles on Friday. His arrest occurred during a series of immigration enforcement operations conducted by Homeland Security, where he reportedly obstructed an ICE vehicle.
Reports indicate that Huerta sustained injuries when federal agents forcibly removed him from the path of the ICE vehicle. After receiving medical attention while in custody, he was discharged from the hospital later that evening. Huerta is expected to remain in custody until his arraignment scheduled for Monday in federal court.
Footage captured by civilians, alongside bodycam recordings from law enforcement, depict Huerta standing in front of the ICE vehicle before being shoved aside, resulting in his fall to the sidewalk—either from loss of balance or being pulled away by fellow demonstrators.
EVERYBODY WATCH.
ICE IS OUT OF CONTROL.
Video of SEIU California’s President David Huerta getting assaulted & arrested during an ICE raid in the warehouse district of Downtown Los Angeles today.
He’s an LA native, American citizen and labor leader.
Don’t turn away. pic.twitter.com/TuDDSHaISC— Fight for a Union (@FightForAUnion) June 6, 2025
Interim U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, issued a statement accompanied by video evidence, asserting, “Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday. Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are—if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”
Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday. Let… pic.twitter.com/GIFD34LIcF
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) June 7, 2025
The SEIU responded with a defiant statement, declaring, “Let’s be clear: ICE injured and detained the president of SEIU California for peacefully observing. ICE chose the wrong side. The wrong state. The wrong person. And the wrong union. David Huerta stood up. And 750,000 SEIU workers are standing with him.”
Let’s be clear: ICE injured and detained the president of SEIU California for peacefully observing.
ICE picked the wrong side. The wrong state. The wrong person. and the wrong union. David Huerta stood up. And 750,000 SEIU workers are standing with him.https://t.co/WYzt2Bv38I— SEIU California (@seiucalifornia) June 6, 2025
In an update, SEIU reported that Huerta had been released from the hospital but remained in custody. His message was poignant: “We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. Free David Huerta. Free them ALL.”
UPDATE: David Huerta has been released from the hospital but remains in custody.
His words: “We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice.”
Free David Huerta. Free them ALL. pic.twitter.com/Nw5cB4NRge— SEIU California (@seiucalifornia) June 7, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) expressed his support, stating, “David Huerta is a respected leader, a patriot, and an advocate for working people. No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action.”
David Huerta is a respected leader, a patriot, and an advocate for working people. No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action. https://t.co/6v8OLXLsMx
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 7, 2025
Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) weighed in, asserting, “The president of SEIU California was exercising his first amendment right to witness law enforcement activity. For being a patriotic American, David Huerta was arrested by ICE and hurt and is now receiving care while in custody. No matter who this happened to, it is outrageous. He must be immediately released from custody and receive proper care. -NP”
The president of SEIU California was exercising his first amendment right to witness law enforcement activity. For being a patriotic American, David Huerta was arrested by ICE and hurt and is now receiving care while in custody. No matter who this happened to, it is outrageous.… https://t.co/82DfV4PeRF
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) June 6, 2025
Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) condemned the incident, stating, “The Trump administration’s continued targeting of our immigrant communities, its illegal renderings and separation of families is unconscionable. Today’s detention of, and injury to, David Huerta, President of @seiuusww, and a U.S. citizen, while acting as a community observer during an immigration raid in LA is another terrible example. This is part of a larger campaign of intimidation by the White House. And it must end.”
The Trump administration’s continued targeting of our immigrant communities, its illegal renderings and separation of families is unconscionable.
Today’s detention of, and injury to, David Huerta, President of @seiuusww, and a U.S. citizen, while acting as a community observer…— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) June 7, 2025
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) praised Huerta’s commitment to the community, stating, “David is a long time champion and respected member of our community who did today what he’s done his entire career: stand up for working families. We must all stand together with David—and against this reckless pattern of extreme and cruel immigration enforcement.”
David is a long time champion and respected member of our community who did today what he’s done his entire career: stand up for working families.
We must all stand together with David––and against this reckless pattern of extreme and cruel immigration enforcement. https://t.co/65aQXTYKR0— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) June 6, 2025
Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic Party, remarked, “David Huerta, the president of @seiucalifornia, was just injured and detained by ICE for exercising his First Amendment rights. This is immoral and un-American. Here’s the thing about the labor movement—when you come after one of us, you’re coming after all of us.”
David Huerta, the president of @seiucalifornia, was just injured and detained by ICE for exercising his First Amendment rights.
This is immoral and un-American.
Here’s the thing about the labor movement—when you come after one of us, you’re coming after all of us. pic.twitter.com/b1nSZN861P— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) June 7, 2025
According to KNBC-TV, during the immigration raids in Los Angeles, federal agents apprehended over 40 individuals. The operations involved executing search warrants at various locations, including the Home Depot in Westlake District and two offices of Ambience Apparel in downtown LA. A total of 44 people were “administratively” arrested, with one additional arrest made for obstruction.
