Eighteen people were arrested during an "ICE Out!" immigration protest in Denver on Tuesday evening, as hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Colorado State Capitol before marching through downtown streets in solidarity with Los Angeles protesters facing federal immigration enforcement. The arrests came amid escalating tensions between protesters and police when demonstrators attempted to access Interstate 25 near the Broadway and Exposition Avenue intersection.
The demonstration began at 5:30 p.m. on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol, where protesters assembled to oppose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and Trump administration immigration policies. According to Denver7, hundreds of demonstrators initially gathered peacefully before the crowd split into multiple groups that marched down different thoroughfares, blocking traffic throughout downtown Denver.
Key Organizations and Leaders Behind the Protest
The Tuesday demonstration was organized by the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition (CIRC), with additional promotion from 50501 Colorado, the Communications Workers of America, and Political Revolution. The protest was part of a coordinated national response to Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, where anti-ICE demonstrations had been occurring since the weekend.
"This is more than a protest. It's a call to defend our future," said Raquel Lane-Arellano, communications manager for CIRC, in a press release. As reported by Colorado Newsline, the group characterized the demonstration as resistance against "the Trump administration trying to turn our government into a weapon—unleashing the military on immigrants, workers, and anyone who won't bow to their agenda."
Alfonso Espino Reyna with the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation told media outlets that the violence wasn't limited to protests themselves. "It's not just about the violence that's happening against protesters during protests, it's the violence that's happening during the separation of families. It's the violence that's happening at the border. It's the violence that's happening to families all across this country," he stated.
Timeline of Events and Police Response
The protest began peacefully with speeches at the Capitol, but around 6:30 p.m., a breakaway group of protesters began marching south down Lincoln Street before crossing to Broadway. According to CPR News, during the Capitol speeches, a group of self-described anarchists separated from the main group and spilled onto 14th and Lincoln streets, blocking traffic. One masked individual told reporters, "PSL organized this, but we anarchists have taken over."
The confrontation intensified around 8:30 p.m. when protesters reached the area near Broadway and Exposition Avenue. Officers in tactical gear ordered the crowd to disperse, with one police officer warning, "or all reasonable and necessary force will be used to make your arrest and prosecute you." When protesters attempted to access Interstate 25, Denver police deployed smoke canisters and pepper balls to control the crowd and prevent highway access.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas explained the department's position in interviews Wednesday, stating, "We just can't allow them to take the highway because it's just not safe for anybody. It's not safe for officers. It's not safe for demonstrators. It's not safe for the motorist and public." The police chief acknowledged the challenge of managing protests while supporting immigrants' right to demonstrate, saying his department supports immigrants "using their voice and demonstrating about the things that are happening across the country."
Arrest Details and Legal Implications
The 18 arrests included a range of charges reflecting the various incidents that occurred throughout the evening. Denver7 reported the breakdown of charges: three arrests for graffiti, one for interference with police authority, one for unlawful throwing of projectiles and failure to obey a lawful order, eight for obstruction of streets and failure to obey a lawful order, two for obstruction of streets with additional interference charges, one for second-degree assault, and two for second-degree assault of a peace officer.
One notable incident involved a suspect who allegedly struck another person—not an officer—over the head with a skateboard, causing serious bodily injury. Chief Thomas characterized some arrestees as "agitators" who were trying to "hijack the message" of peaceful protesters. "Trying to, just, create chaos.... and so, you know, I think that that, reasonably, I think angers the peaceful protesters because I think it dampens their message and I think takes away from their message," he explained.
Legal experts note that the charges range from misdemeanors to more serious felony assault charges. Those arrested for obstruction of streets and failure to obey lawful orders face relatively minor penalties, while the assault charges could result in significant jail time and fines. The variety of charges reflects the diverse nature of the incidents during the protest.
Connection to Los Angeles Protests and National Context
The Denver demonstration was explicitly organized in solidarity with ongoing protests in Los Angeles, where federal immigration enforcement had sparked days of confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. Colorado Newsline noted that Trump had deployed more than 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, despite objections from local officials including Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Trump administration has characterized recent ICE operations as targeting "the worst of the worst," though immigration advocates point to raids at workplaces like clothing wholesalers and Home Depot locations that appear to target general immigrant populations rather than specific criminals. The share of people in ICE detention with no criminal record had risen to nearly 25% as of June 1, according to the American Immigration Council, representing a sharp increase from 6% in January.
Local Immigration Context and Related Developments
The protest occurred against the backdrop of significant immigration-related controversy in Colorado, including a whistleblower lawsuit filed against Governor Jared Polis. Scott Moss, director of the state Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, sued the governor for allegedly ordering state employees to turn over personal information about sponsors of unaccompanied immigrant children to ICE, potentially violating Colorado's privacy laws.
Nayda Benitez, organizing director for CIRC, referenced this controversy during the protest, saying, "We need more people that are willing to stand up and do what Scott Moss just did." According to CPR News, Polis has agreed to delay compliance with the ICE subpoena until at least June 23 while the lawsuit proceeds.
Aurora ICE Detention Facility and Previous Protests
The Denver protest followed a Monday demonstration at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, where about 150 protesters marched to show solidarity with Los Angeles demonstrators. Colorado Newsline reported that the Aurora facility, operated by private prison company GEO Group, houses a daily average of more than 1,100 people awaiting deportation or other immigration proceedings.
The Aurora facility has been a focal point for immigration protests for years, particularly since the detention of prominent activist Jeanette Vizguerra in March. Vizguerra, a nationally recognized immigrant rights advocate who was previously named to TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People list, spoke by video call during Monday's vigil, telling protesters, "This fight continues."
Immigration advocates have long criticized the Aurora detention center for poor living conditions and treatment of detainees. A recent study by CIRC identified "broad themes of dehumanizing and potentially racist behavior by ICE agents" based on interviews with 17 former detainees.
Police Crowd Control Changes Since 2020
When asked about changes to crowd control policies since the 2020 protests following George Floyd's death, Denver police provided several examples of policy modifications, though they declined to provide detailed explanations. The changes include eliminating the use of 40mm less lethal equipment for crowd control purposes, modifying how officers are permitted to use pepper balls for crowd management, enhancing less lethal equipment training, and providing additional crowd control response training to all officers.
The department emphasized that officers used smoke and pepper balls rather than tear gas during Tuesday's confrontation. A spokesperson described pepper balls as "like paint balls, but containing a pepper spray type substance that are typically fired at the ground."
Future Demonstrations and Ongoing Organizing
Organizers announced plans for additional protests, including "No Kings" demonstrations scheduled for Saturday, June 14, to coincide with Trump's birthday. The Denver Post noted that Coloradans in nearly 50 towns and cities have scheduled "No Kings" protests spanning the state, from Denver and Boulder to Pueblo and Grand Junction.
Chief Thomas indicated his department is preparing for Saturday's demonstrations by utilizing overtime, pulling officers from other shifts, and coordinating with surrounding agencies. "It's often best to over-prepare, and so I'm confident that we will have a number of officers — the appropriate number of officers — to handle the size of the protest and whatever activities they choose to engage in," he stated.
The Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation has gained significant traction in recent years, attracting large crowds to events focused on immigration and other social justice issues. According to Denverite, the organization recently drew 1,800 people to a "know your rights" training at a Denver church, demonstrating growing community engagement in immigration advocacy.
Legal and Policy Implications
The arrests and ongoing immigration enforcement activities raise significant legal and policy questions for Colorado. The state's "sanctuary" laws limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, but the Moss whistleblower lawsuit has exposed tensions between state and federal officials over information sharing.
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Colorado and Denver over their sanctuary policies, with Attorney General Phil Weiser's office defending the state's laws. However, Weiser's office is not representing Polis in the Moss lawsuit due to potential conflicts of interest, requiring the governor to retain outside counsel.
Immigration advocates argue that compliance with federal requests undermines trust in state institutions and Colorado's commitment to protecting immigrant communities. David Seligman, executive director of Towards Justice and a candidate for state attorney general, warned that cooperation with ICE could have a chilling effect on labor abuse reporting, since workers may fear that filing complaints could lead to deportation.
