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Farmworkers March in Delano to Protest ICE Raids and Honor César Chávez’s Legacy

Over 5,000 gathered on César Chávez Day to oppose immigration policies, advocate for labor protections, and highlight the challenges facing undocumented workers in California’s Central Valley.

Gabriel Leal said he witnessed some of his farmworker friends detained by ICE during raids in January.
Community labor organizers and union leaders, including members of SEIU Local 721, United Farm Workers and the California Federation of Labor Unions, gathered early Monday, March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles before traveling north to a statewide march in Delano. The journey, themed “Con Estas Manos/With These Hands,” echoes Cesar Chávez’s historic march from Delano to Sacramento for farmworkers’ rights. (Courtesy of Tim Sandoval/SEIU)

Overview

  • The march brought together over 5,000 United Farm Worker members and union allies at the historic Forty Acres site in Delano, California, on March 31, 2025.
  • Protesters condemned recent ICE raids in Kern County, which have detained and deported approximately 200 farmworkers, heightening fear and anxiety among undocumented workers.
  • Organizers emphasized the need for stronger labor protections, including sick days, heat safety measures, and health care for farmworkers, many of whom are undocumented.
  • California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other labor leaders joined the march, sharing personal stories and affirming solidarity with immigrant workers.
  • The event honored César Chávez’s legacy while addressing diverging community perspectives on immigration enforcement, with some residents supporting ICE actions as a safety measure.