Clashes and Chants: Tensions flare up during immigration protest in downtown Phoenix

By Casey Clowes

Arizona’s Family reporter Karina Rubio reports from Phoenix on how federal agents are detaining illegal immigrants who show up for their immigration hearings.

By Peter Valencia
Published: May 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM MST|Updated: May 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM MST

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Tensions flared in downtown Phoenix on Wednesday as more than a dozen demonstrators took to the streets, following reports that ICE agents had recently detained individuals outside a federal courthouse.

Video from Arizona’s Family shows what appear to be a number of federal agents including those from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), detaining some who showed up for their immigration hearing.

More than a dozen protesters turned out to showcase their support for undocumented immigrants and to oppose immigration operations happening in the Valley in the wake of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. At times, the demonstrations turned tense and confrontational between protesters and those supporting immigration agents.

Several protesters also participated in chants voicing their disapproval of the arrests outside the Phoenix Immigration Court near 7th Avenue and Van Buren Street.

“No justice. No peace. No ICE or police,” one protester chanted before yelling an expletive toward federal agents in Spanish. Several others stood firm in voicing their opposition through signs and peaceful protest.

Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement waited outside immigration court in Phoenix on Tuesday, arresting individuals arriving for their court hearings.

“We have seen over 20 families separated and rushed and funneled into vans, arrested in courtrooms, and shamed, said Monica Sandshaper, state director for Mi Familia en Accion, a Latino and pro-immigrant advocacy group. “This is unprecedented. This is unprecedented for folks who believe that this is a normalized, everyday behavior. It’s not.”

Progressive activist group Progress Arizona called the recent immigrations operations “deeply alarming” and claimed the children had also been taken away.

“Due Process is a very basic idea: if the government wants to infringe on your liberty, they better have a damn good reason, and they have to prove their case,” said Alex Alvarez, the executive director for Progress Arizona. “Without it, anyone can be disappeared with impunity, citizen and non-citizen alike. Today, ICE, acting as modern-day Gestapo, continued the Trump regime’s all-out assault on due process…”

Valley immigration attorney Sheree Wright says it’s all part about a new tactic used by the feds. When a case is dismissed, migrants are no longer under “temporary protected status,” and thus are able to be arrested by federal agents.

“I have a client who says he feels as though he’s going to have a heart attack. His trial is tomorrow. And he is expected to be present,” said Wright. “There are individuals who are ultimately trying to do the right thing. Showing up to their immigration proceedings.”

A few protesters were holding signs, mainly in Spanish, asking immigrants to “maintain their…
A few protesters were holding signs, mainly in Spanish, asking immigrants to “maintain their silence” and asking them to not “sign anything.”(Arizona’s Family)

State and local Democratic officials have also voiced opposition or expressed concern about the tactics used by the feds, including Gov. Katie Hobbs.

“The Governor’s Office is still gathering information on the latest reports. The governor has made her position clear: she supports securing the border and a focus on deporting criminals, but is firmly opposed to indiscriminate roundups and inhumane immigration enforcement practices. Gov. Hobbs is committed to protecting everybody’s constitutional rights,” the governor’s office said in a statement to Arizona’s Family.

“In the video, ICE agents are seen waiting to detain individuals as they exit the courthouse following immigration proceedings. A mother and her children were quickly apprehended and loaded into an unmarked white van, likely headed toward deportation,” read one email by the Maricopa County Democratic Party. “ICE claims they’re only deporting individuals with criminal records. But according to the detained woman’s attorney, she has no criminal background whatsoever.”

State Sen. Catherine Miranda was among the first to speak out against the detainment of migrants.

“ICE said that they cannot provide details of any operations for safety reasons – but what about the safety of the immigrant community? Many of whom have come to the U.S. to avoid dangerous living conditions in their home country,” Miranda said in an email to her constituents, which was obtained by Arizona’s Family. “Agents showing up to detain people after their hearings is not only unprecedented, but also absolutely reprehensible.”

News of federal agents detaining migrants was first reported by Telemundo Arizona. The outlet reported that at least eight people were arrested on Tuesday. Arizona’s Family reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more information about this week’s but the agency didn’t respond by Wednesday night.

More demonstrations are planned for Thursday.

“This is going to continue to happen. But we are also going to continue to be here,” said Maria Teresa Mabry, a protester.