Gallery • 4 Photos

Since early December of last year, anti-ICE protests have been happening around the country, especially in Minneapolis, Minnesota and have increased in recent weeks after the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s two shootings and nearly 2.5 million total deportations have caused anger around the United States, resulting in peaceful protests by citizens standing against them with signs, music and gatherings of thousands of people. The deportation of innocents is so bad that so many people are standing up against ICE. Sometimes ICE tries to get around the law, which using body cameras could prevent. Immigrants are too afraid to even come out of their homes, which is so frightening that people are comparing it to the Holocaust. Because of the severity of this, more people should attend protests.

On Jan. 23, about two weeks after the killing of Renee Good, a protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota saw a turnout of a whopping 50,000 people. Peaceful protests like these showcase citizens holding signs with anti-ICE or anti-Trump messages while cars driving by honk in support. Along with this, protestors have been seen standing as barricades blocking ICE agents and their cars, which can sometimes make the peaceful act of protests turn violent, though protestors are using their freedom to take action. While Minneapolis protests are especially large, they have been happening in every U.S. state, including Hawai‘i.

While many protests have already been taking place, especially large ones have happened after the shootings of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. On top of these two shootings, around 32 people died in ICE custody during Trump’s first year in office. The arrest of 5-year-old boy Liam Ramos and his father had left many people in the United States fighting for his release, which finally occurred after a judge said that their confinement violated constitutional protections.

Some wonder if what ICE is doing is legal. In several instances, ICE has taken days or weeks to comply with court orders to release detainees. Despite judges’ orders, ICE has shuttled detainees out of state, which causes legal complications and makes it harder for them to fight for their release.

Congress recently passed a new law stating that ICE officers are required to wear body cameras. Trump said that they “generally tend to be good for law enforcement because people can’t lie about what’s happening.” Body cameras could decrease debates and confirm the circumstances of arrests.

Along with others, governor of Minnesota Tim Walz compared the experience of children dealing with immigration to Anne Frank in the Holocaust. ​​”We have got children in Minnesota hiding in their houses, afraid to go outside. Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank,” Walz said. “Somebody’s going to write that children’s story about Minnesota”.

The U.S. Holocaust Museum responded on X saying, “Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish. Leaders making false equivalencies to her experience for political purposes is never acceptable. Despite tensions in Minneapolis, exploiting the Holocaust is deeply offensive, especially as antisemitism surges.” While it’s obvious how one could see this as offensive, sadly, it’s true in some cases. What’s going on with ICE has a lot of similarities to the holocaust, with illegal and legal immigrants and in hiding because they’re being targeted for who they are.

While the circumstances may be bad, there are many ways you can stand up against ICE, even in Hawai’i. There are “CRUSH ICE” protests weekly in Ala Moana and Waikiki. Making signs or just showing up helps to show your support.

These protests that showcase how people stand up for each other are truly incredible. With everything going on, many people are experiencing trouble, threats and fear. It is important to support them by attending protests and doing whatever you can to make a difference.