Students and workers mobilized in cities across the United States in March 3, to mark a “Day without Immigrants” in protest of US President Trump’s ongoing crackdown on immigrants. Trump has been launching attacks on immigrant communities throughout the US, attempting to make good on campaign promises to deport between 15 and 20 million immigrants.
Trump’s administration has run into significant difficulties in this mission due in part to the limited capacity of ICE detention facilities, and has recently been attempting to fast-track deportations. A recent internal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memo from February, obtained by the Washington Post, reveals that the Trump administration is instructing immigration authorities to identify immigrants for “expedited removal” from the US—a process that fast-tracks deportations without a court hearing. In this memo, Trump’s administration identifies migrants who could be eligible for “expedited removal”these include people who crossed the border unlawfully, or entered the country legally but did not apply for asylum, or who presented themselves at US ports of entry but lacked documents.
As Trump and his border czar Thomas Homan attempt to ramp up their mass deportation operation, students and workers have mobilized waves of protest against the crackdown. On March 3, demonstrations occurred across the country to mark a “Day without Immigrants,” in which demonstrators heeded calls to fight back against mass deportations.
Activists in the immigrant rights movement, including socialist presidential and vice presidential candidates Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia, had been publicizing the call to not work, go shopping, or attend school in solidarity with immigrant communities. “We are essential, we are strong, we are a community,” read calls to action spread throughout social media.
As De la Cruz wrote on social media, “Immigrants are significant contributors to the economy and social life of the US.” The socialist 2024 presidential candidate continued, “It is not justified and it’s immoral to exploit and reap the benefits of immigrant labor while attacking, criminalizing and dehumanizing immigrants.”
“We must show our strength as a people—immigrants, workers, students, all communities. Migration is not a crime! No Human Being is Illegal!”
Students at Overfelt High School in San Jose walking out of school in protest.
In Los Angeles, hundreds rallied in Mariachi Plaza in the heart of the Chicano/Mexican neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Organizations involved in the march include the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), Los Jornaleros Del Norte, a musical group active in the immigrant rights movement, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Demonstrators then marched through the city of Los Angeles, holding signs with slogans including “ICE: Out of our communities” and “The people demand: Stop the deportations!”
🗣️¡Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos!
Los Angeles marches as part of the Day Without Immigrants to say that immigrants make our country run – and we will continue to build solidarity and fight against the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda! pic.twitter.com/t8xRM634Wc
— Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslnational) March 3, 2025
In New Jersey, activists rallied outside of an ICE detention center in Elizabeth. Demonstrators held signs with slogans such as “No raids, no detention, no deportation,” “No prisons for profit,” and “Fuera CoreCivic,” in reference to the for-profit corporation, CoreCivic, that is contracted to run the Elizabeth Detention Center. For-profit corporations are contracted by the government to run the vast majority of immigrant detention centers due to the ballooning population of migrant detainees, which often results in lowered accountability and increased abuse of prisoners.
At the University of Southern California (USC), hundreds of custodial workers with Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) marched with students for a fair contract with the university.
HAPPENING NOW: In Los Angeles, hundreds of USC custodial workers are marching with students and unions for a fair contract and immigrant worker rights. pic.twitter.com/O4q3gwJDzw
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) March 3, 2025
