Maxine Waters Joins ICE Protest As LAPD Arrests Violent Agitators

Maxine Waters Joins ICE Protest as LAPD Arrests Violent Agitators: A Flashpoint in a Nation‑Wide Struggle

In early 2026, an anti‑immigration enforcement protest in Los Angeles drew not only hundreds of demonstrators but also national attention and high‑profile political involvement — including the participation of Rep. Maxine Waters, one of the most outspoken Democratic voices in Congress. The protest, part of a broader wave of demonstrations across the United States, turned confrontational in parts, leading to arrests of “violent agitators” by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as local leaders, federal authorities and activists debated the rights of protestors, the use of force, and the ongoing turmoil over U.S. immigration policy.

These events have highlighted stark divisions in American politics today — between those demanding fundamental changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and those defending law enforcement’s role in upholding federal law — and have placed elected leaders like Maxine Waters squarely in the spotlight amid the tension.

What Sparked the Protest

The Los Angeles protest was one of hundreds organized nationwide under the banner of “ICE Out of Everywhere,” a campaign that sought to push back against what demonstrators view as an aggressive and inhumane enforcement strategy by ICE under the current administration. Many protests were held in response to recent ICE actions that included large‑scale raids and the controversial killings of two individuals by federal agents in Minneapolis, which ignited widespread anger and calls for reform across the country.

The rallies were not limited to Los Angeles — groups assembled in cities like Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, and elsewhere, participating in walkouts, marches, and demonstrations calling for an end to ICE’s presence. One notable movement even saw participants call for a nationwide strike, urging people to refrain from school, work and shopping to draw attention to immigration enforcement issues.

In LA, thousands gathered in front of City Hall and eventually marched toward the Metropolitan Detention Center, a focal point for immigration enforcement, as part of broader anti‑ICE activism. While many attendees were peaceful, a subset of the crowd clashed with police, throwing objects and blocking the facility entrance, which led law enforcement to intervene.

Rep. Maxine Waters’ Involvement

Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California known for her vocal criticism of restrictive immigration policies and her activism on civil rights issues, was present outside the detention center during the demonstration. According to multiple accounts, Waters stood with protesters near law enforcement lines, chanting slogans such as “ICE out of L.A.” and framing the crowd’s actions as constitutional civic engagement.

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