Masked protesters chanted “shame” or the Spanish phrase “chinga la migra” in front of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Little Rock Wednesday. They stood across the road from the building, near Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, amid chilly temperatures and loud gusts of wind.
A group called the Central Arkansas Democratic Socialists of America, or CDSA, organized the protest. They named it “End ICE terror.” Virtually every protester wore a face covering; many said they wanted their identities shielded from ICE.
They object to the recent mass expansion of ICE by the Trump administration. They wanted to show “solidarity” with the unnamed people walking out of the building.
There is no sign labeling the building, but ICE confirmed it’s theirs on the agency website.
“You wouldn't assume that it's an ICE deportation facility just from looking at it,” organizer Samuel McCullough said.
Around 3 p.m., a large, unmarked white bus rolled up to the facility. ICE agents and other law enforcement pulled large chains out the back of the bus.
Around a half hour later, a group of people with shackled feet loaded the bus. Protesters screamed “shame” and “no fascist USA.”
Greg Moore served as a spokesman and marshal for the group. Moore said he is "someone who sees the best in people." During the protest, he hoped he would be able to “talk to the ICE agents” and “possibly reach their conscience.”
“We feel like they are targeting people's friends, neighbors and productive, normal members of our communities,” he said. “We are all immigrants here.”
The protest was entirely peaceful. About 15 people participated.
