Since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders to restrict immigration and facilitate his plan to carry out “mass deportations.” These orders have revoked previous guidance that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from conducting raids in “sensitive areas,” for example, such as schools and churches. In response, communities across the country have mobilized in support of immigrant rights and local safety initiatives. These demonstrations and community actions have aimed to push back on dehumanizing rhetoric and misinformation, advocate for immigrant protections, and express opposition to policies that may violate domestic and international law.

Key Trends

• Immigration-related demonstrations have reached a record high this year, according to analysis of ACLED data. So far in 2025, these protests have made up 27% of total reported events, marking a sharp increase from just 3% for all of 2024.
   
• Protests in support of immigrant rights have accounted for 97% of all immigration-related demonstrations, with many communities rallying to push back against dehumanizing attacks on immigrant groups that raise the risk of violence.
  • These protests have occurred in all 50 states and D.C. in 2025.
     
• While there have been no reports of violent or contentious activity at 97% of all immigration-related demonstrations this year, confrontations between protesters, police, and counter-protesters have been recorded at multiple events, in addition to at least three apparent car-ramming attacks targeting demonstrators.

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