Overview

• ICE raids on June 7 in Los Angeles’s garment district resulted in 40 local arrests and the detention of 42 Mexican nationals, four of whom were deported.
• The Mexican flag has emerged as a central emblem representing solidarity and cultural pride among protesters, echoing past movements such as the Chicano Movement and opposition to Prop 187.
• Clashes between demonstrators and police have led to dozens more arrests and prompted President Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines in support of ICE operations.
• Administration officials and Republican leaders have condemned flag-waving protesters as insurrectionists, while experts highlight First Amendment protections.
• Some critics draw parallels to the 1994 Prop 187 protests, arguing that foreign flag displays polarize public opinion and divert attention from immigration policy concerns.