Friday, June 13, 2025

The backlash to Trump's ICE raids is here

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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Jun 13 2025

Hey there − Savannah Kuchar, Congress and Campaigns Reporter here, along with Phillip M. Bailey, Chief Political Correspondent. And this is your weekly edition of This Is America, a newsletter about justice and society.

Donald Trump's immigration crackdown reached a flashpoint this week, inciting days-long protests first around Los Angeles and then, the country.

Just in case you haven't kept up with USA TODAY's day-to-day live coverage, we've got you. Here's a rough timeline of events to catch you up on the past week:

•	June 6: Small, local protests sprang up last Friday in response to Trump's escalated detention and deportation of immigrants.
•	June 7-8: Demonstrations escalated over the weekend, and on Saturday evening, Trump ordered the California National Guard to join local law enforcement.
•	June 9: Next, Trump called in the Marines.
•	June 11: By the middle of this week, protesters in more than 45 other cities across America took to the streets, echoing Los Angeles.

Trump critics, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 candidate, have accused the president of fanning flames (no, literally – there were Waymo cars on fire at one point).

The demonstrations have also spurred social media rebukes from celebrities and influencers alike, including well-known names like Kim Kardashian and Doechii.

A protester holds a sign in front of law enforcement officers during a June 9, 2025, protest in downtown Los Angeles following a series of immigration raids around the metro area.

Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY, Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hey y'all, it's Phillip. The politics of this situation cannot be overstated as initial surveys suggest Trump 2.0's hardline immigration stance is resonating with a majority of the public.

Voters nationwide give Trump some of his best marks on immigration policy, with 54% of Americans saying they approved of his deportation actions in CBS News/YouGov survey released this month.

Yet 56% said they disapprove of how it's being implemented, which may give Newsom and the Democrats an opening.

But what might startle progressives is that other polls show Republicans making significant gains among those who came to the U.S. legally. Those foreign-born voters held a 23-point positive perception of non-citizen migrants in 2020, according to CNN.

Four years later that has swung to a 6-point negative perception.

Here's what else we're reading this week:

•	In LA's Paramount neighborhood, ICE raids hit hard
•	Restoring Confederate names: Trump administration to bring back controversial military base names
•	A Massachusetts town became a flashpoint for Trump's immigration crackdown, after ICE arrested an 11th grader

Why are there tanks in Washington, D.C.?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, there's about to be a very different show of military force at the president's request.

A parade to mark the Army's 250^th anniversary is set for Saturday, coinciding with Trump's own 79^th birthday (and, uh, also one of your newsletter writers' 25^th).

Trump has threatened "very heavy force" against anyone who tries to interrupt his tank-touting celebration in the capital.

But beyond Washington, MAGA opponents are holding a plethora of rallies, under the umbrella title "No Kings Day."

•	Philadelphia is scheduled to host the largest of these demonstrations.
•	Veterans will lead the procession in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
•	There are at least 1,800 other communities across the country planning to host a protest.

Thanks for reading with us! We'll be back next week with more stories of belonging and diversity from across the country. In the meantime, find us on social @ savannahkuchar and @phillipmbailey.