President Trump demanded that Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) target “three major cities everyday” and the White House has made it clear that any undocumented immigrant that is caught in one of these ICE raids, criminals or not, can be arrested and deported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that “all of them” are criminals. “They illegally broke our nation’s laws and, therefore, are criminals as far as this administration goes.” Crossing the border in the United States illegally is a civil matter and not a criminal offense according to U.S. Code 1325.
The day of the protest President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act that would grant the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. Trump also ordered that Guantanamo Bay prepare to increase the size to hold 30,000 migrants that were detained by ICE.
Protests began in Gainesville when President Trump first ordered ICE to start conducting raids in sanctuary cities on Jan. 26. ICE was given a green light on targeting churches, schools and businesses.
“My purpose for the protest was to show solidarity for the immigrant community, specifically the Latinx community.” – Kiaya Reddicks, Gainesville Protest Organizer
Kiaya Reddick is a University of North Georgia student who helped set up and organize the protest in Gainesville on Jan. 29. Reddick is a “daughter of an immigrant” and said that her partner and friends are of hispanic descent “going after them is going after me. It will always be personal to me.”
“I kept seeing TikToks of people organizing this protest and waving the Mexican flags on the street. I am so grateful to see my people, my community come together especially now because no one wants to be deported. We know that it’s not just the illegal immigrants [President Trump] wants gone. He wants all of us to be deported.” – Elizabeth Rafael, Gainesville protester
Members of the Gainesville community went to TikTok to organize protests on Jesse Jewel Pkwy. and the downtown square on Jan. 26 and 29.
Protestors lined the streets in Gainesville and in front of Brenau University. Protestors carried Mexican, Guatemalan and other Hispanic flags alongside signs that said “Immigrants Make America Great” and “justicia para los inmigrantes.”
“We are here voicing our rights and against the mass deportations that are happening and the ICE raids that are impacting so many people in our community and many other Hispanic communities too.” – Olga Vargas, Gainesville protester
