Union leader thrown to ground by agents while protesting ICE raid, charges later dropped
Oct 18, 2025·Location: Los Angeles, CA

David Huerta, president of SEIU California, was arrested while protesting a federal immigration raid at an apparel business in downtown Los Angeles. Federal agents pushed him to the ground, causing his head to hit the curb, then sprayed him with a chemical irritant, handcuffed him, and took him to a hospital before transferring him to a federal detention center. Prosecutors initially charged him with felony conspiracy to impede a federal officer. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor, and the case was ultimately dismissed with prejudice in July. Huerta said the 15-month legal ordeal caused him significant psychological stress, strained his marriage, and led him to begin therapy.
Timeline
Sources
- California labor leader's felony charge over immigration protest is reduced
Associated Press·Oct 18, 2025·archived copy
- California labor leader
- The Charges Were Dropped, but the Damage Was Already Done
The Atlantic·Sep 7, 2026
- California labor leader's felony charge over immigration protest is reduced
nbclosangeles.com·Oct 19, 2025·archived copy
- accesswdun.com
- mynorthwest.com
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