National Teachers Unions Defend Immigrants Amid Los Angeles Anti-ICE Protests

In Los Angeles, protests erupted against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, with violent clashes prompting President Trump to deploy the National Guard to restore order. Leaders of major teachers unions, including NEA President Becky Pringle and AFT President Randi Weingarten, vocally opposed the Trump administration's deportation efforts, defending undocumented immigrants and condemning the deployment of troops as intimidation tactics. Pringle expressed solidarity with protesters, urging continued resistance against what she described as hateful immigration enforcement, while Weingarten labeled the crackdown as heavy-handed and unnecessary. The protests took place outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where many detained immigrants are held, and included diverse participants such as families with mixed immigration status. Union leaders have a history of opposing ICE operations, with the NEA previously advising educators to protect undocumented students from deportation. The unrest has raised questions about the impact of such activism on students and communities, amid ongoing national debates over immigration policy enforcement.