David Huerta hit with ‘baseless charges’ for observing ICE raid

California labor leader Huerta was violently arrested by federal agents and held for three days in June

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 20, 2025) — Four months after his arrest while peacefully exercising his constitutional rights during an ICE worksite raid in Los Angeles’ warehouse district, federal prosecutors are charging SEIU United Service Workers West President David Huerta with a misdemeanor count of obstruction of a federal officer. 

Prosecutors claim that Huerta obstructed heavily-armed, masked ICE agents by crossing a driveway and impeding a vehicle. Video of the moments leading up to his arrest shows a federal agent shoving Huerta — whose hands are on his hips — to the ground, causing Huerta to hit his head against the pavement. He was taken to the hospital for treatment after arrest.

Huerta was initially charged with a felony offense upon his arrest, and held in federal detention for three days. His arrest sparked global condemnation and protests across the U.S., with thousands taking to the streets to decry what many viewed as a cynical attempt to silence a respected labor leader and quell protests of militarized ICE raids. Hundreds marched to Seattle City Hall to protest his arrest, call for his release, and reaffirm labor’s support for targeted immigrant workers. 

Protestors march in Downtown Seattle in June to protest Huerta’s arrest.

News of the misdemeanor charge was met with immediate condemnation from the labor movement.

“Four months ago, SEIU California and SEIU-USWW President David Huerta was thrown to the ground, tackled, pepper sprayed, and detained by federal agents while exercising his constitutional rights at an ICE raid in Los Angeles. As the video of his arrest went viral, David’s courage showed the world what it means to peacefully stand up for immigrant workers and for all workers,” said SEIU, SEIU California, and SEIU-USWW in a statement.

“Standing up for immigrants is not a crime,” the statement continues. “While ICE continues its cowardly raids while refusing to show their faces, SEIU members – of every race and background across California and our country – are proud to stand up for David Huerta just as he stood up for all of us. We will keep fighting until every worker and every family is safe from raids, separation, and fear.”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler echoed that promise of worker solidarity in the face of state violence.

“He never should have been detained in the first place, and it’s a threat to all working people that the Trump Department of Justice is now pursuing these baseless charges,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in a statement. “In the labor movement, we live by the principle that an injustice against one is an injustice against all of us. As David fights for justice and vindication, the nearly 15 million members of the AFL-CIO stand shoulder to shoulder with him—and all of those unfairly targeted by this administration.”

News of Huerta’s misdemeanor charge comes as the Trump administration has increasingly pursued cases against political opponents and extreme charges against everyday people engaged in protest.

“We are witnessing a deliberate and escalating campaign of fear that targets workers, immigrants, and entire communities. These are not isolated incidents, they are part of a broader strategy to silence dissent, criminalize resistance, and erode the foundations of our democracy,” said Huerta in a statement.

“But we are not afraid. We will not be silenced. We will not be divided,” continued Huerta. “And we will not stop fighting for justice, for dignity, and for a future rooted in freedom and solidarity.”