California union leader faces criminal charge for protesting ICE raid
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Protesters held signs supporting SEIU California president David Huerta at Grand Park in Los Angeles. Photo: courtesy of SEIU
David Huerta, a beloved union leader in Los Angeles, is facing a federal criminal charge after his arrest at a worksite immigration raid on Friday, where he was serving as a community observer, according to multiple reports.
Why it matters: The arrest of the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) president has energized Democrats and union opposition to the Trump administration's escalating anti-immigration push.
The latest: Huerta, whose union represents more than 45,000 janitors, security officers and airport service workers in California, was released from federal custody on a $50,000 bond, the SEIU confirmed to Axios on Monday afternoon.
Zoom in: The Justice Department is charging the 58-year-old union leader with "conspiracy to impede an officer," per NBC News. He was among dozens arrested over the past few days in L.A.
- If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, according to local media.
- The union organized rallies in at least 19 cities across the country on Monday in support of Huerta— including in New York, Chicago and Washington D.C.
Catch up quick: Video shows Huerta being pushed to the ground by an officer on Friday — he was initially hospitalized.
- "This is about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that's happening," Huerta said in a statement Friday. "Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals."
- U.S. attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement on Friday that federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at an L.A. worksite when Huerta "deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle."
- "I don't care who you are—if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted," Essayli said.
What they're saying: "In this moment, obviously, given David's role in our union, is one where we are being outspoken," SEIU president April Verrett told Axios Monday morning before the criminal charges were filed.
- "But this is not just about David. This is about all of us who just want to go to work every day."
- "House Democrats will stand with David Huerta for as long as it takes until the charges are dropped," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement over the weekend.
Zoom out: Huerta is at least the fourth SEIU member or leader to be detained by the Trump administration.
- Last month, federal authorities released a 64-year-old healthcare worker, Lewelyn Dixon, who had been detained for three months and has had legal permanent status in the U.S. for the past half-century.
- Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts graduate student and SEIU member, was released after six weeks in custody.
The big picture: Immigrants have played a key role in most unions for the past couple of decades, but perhaps none more than SEIU in California, which has seen a lot of success organizing janitors, health care workers and fast food employees.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that union leader David Huerta is at least the fourth SEIU member or leader to get detained by the Trump administration.
