The anti-ICE rhetoric and political violence continues to escalate in the wake of widespread “No Kings Day of Defiance” protests, which occurred in major cities across the country last weekend.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army with a military parade in the nation’s capital on Saturday, June 14 — his 79th birthday.
And, in his own show of defiance, the Commander in Chief directed U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, the Associated Press reported.
House Republicans have launched an investigation into who might be funding and organizing the Los Angeles riots, including activist groups such the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Union del Barrio, Fox New Digital reported.
GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of California also called for a congressional investigation into Democratic leaders’ handling of the Los Angeles riots, including the response time of local law enforcement.
The White House commented on the protests in a statement on X: “It is sad Democrats and liberals would rather support criminals and illegals instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great U.S. Army and Flag Day,” communications director Steven Cheung wrote.
The so-called No Kings protests have been a complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance. It is sad Democrats and liberals would rather support criminals and illegals instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great U.S. Army and Flag Day. But many more Americans…
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) June 14, 2025
Amid the widespread protests, the facts on immigration enforcement don’t seem to matter to people with Trump Derangement Syndrome, liberals and organized agitators tied to the violent Los Angeles riots and anti-ICE attacks:
- During his two terms in office, Barack Obama’s administration formally removed approximately 3.1 million noncitizens from the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- On January 6, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted the fifth large-frame charter removal flight in less than seven months to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) of Chinese nationals with final orders of removal from the United States. From the implementation of Joe Biden’s June 4 Proclamation through the end of November, DHS has operated more than 740 international repatriation flights to more than 160 countries—including the PRC, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, and India. In the previous fiscal year, FY2024, DHS removed or returned more than 742,000 individuals, more than any year since FY2010. Efforts to expand removal flights continue.
- Illegal immigrants who are being detained by ICE are criminals and gang members, many have been previously deported multiple times, and the meatpacking plant raid last week in Nebraska was based on an audit that found workers were stealing the identity and social security numbers of U.S. citizens.
Large, boisterous crowds turned out in masks and costumes—carrying a diverse array of homemade signs and flags—to protest what Democrats characterize as an authoritarian regime, with President Trump wanting to become a king, and his administration’s increased immigration enforcement efforts.
The American Civil Liberties Union estimates more than 5 million participated in about 2,100 No Kings protests nationwide on Saturday, June 14, The Palm Beach Post reported, the local outlet near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Some of the largest No Kings protests occurred in New York, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Portland and Los Angeles. Most of the protests remained peaceful with pockets of violence reported.
In Portland, the city’s police declared a riot for several hours during a protest outside the ICE building. Portland police said that three people were arrested near the ICE facility for “criminal actions, and not constitutionally protected free speech,” according to a release early Sunday.
In Utah, a man believed to be part of a peacekeeping team for the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City shot at a person who was brandishing a rifle at demonstrators, injuring the rifleman and killing a bystander among the crowd, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In Los Angeles, No Kings protests were largely peaceful throughout the day, but police issued a dispersal order near the city’s downtown federal building after the crowd allegedly started throwing objects at officers.
A rally Saturday in Riverside also resulted in a woman being seriously injured when an SUV rammed the crowd of protesters, as reported by NBC4 News.
Los Angeles is entering its second week of anti-ICE demonstrations, which began June 6 and resulted in Mayor Karen Bass issuing a curfew after protestors turned violent, hurled rocks and bricks at police, set cars on fire, blocked the 101 Freeway and looted buildings in the downtown area.
Police used tear gas to break up the crowd and ordered everyone to leave the area at roughly 3:55 p.m. local time. Aerial footage shows officers detaining several people, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Governors across the U.S. called for peaceful protests and vowed no tolerance for violence prior to Saturday’s events. Some governors, including in Texas and Missouri, mobilized the National Guard ahead of marchers gathering, the Associated Press and USA Today reported.
But the feud over the use of the National Guard continues between Trump and California’s leftist leaders, who have doubled down on fighting the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
Other Democratic lawmakers have called Trump’s Guard deployment “an alarming abuse of power” that “shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement.”
But the fact is sanctuary city policies prevent local police from assisting with immigration enforcement efforts, including responding to anti-ICE protestors swarming federal agents and vehicles.
On Tuesday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case and determine if Governor Gavin Newsom can retake control of the Californian National Guard, which Trump activated June 8 to guard federal buildings and quell violet riots in Los Angeles.
A federal appeals court last week granted Trump the authority to use California National Guard soldiers in LA, while it considers Trump’s challenge to Newsom’s lawsuit against him.
Newsom alleges the takeover violates the U.S. Constitution and exceeds the President’s Title 10 authority. Newsom filed an emergency request in federal court last Tuesday to block the Trump administration from using the California National Guard and Marines to support immigration operations and restore order in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, a Bill Clinton-era appointment, sided with Newsom that the National Guard deployment was illegal. Breyer ruled Trump illegally mobilized those troops without consulting Newsom, and the Trump administration immediately filed an appeal.
The No Kings protests also continued in Minnesota despite what investigators believe was the politically motivated murder of Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home. On Saturday morning, after news of the shootings broke, Minnesota officials canceled all of the state’s “No Kings” protests.
