The Department of Justice has moved to dismiss charges against David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), who was arrested during a protest against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Los Angeles in June 2025. The motion, filed on Monday by the US attorney's office in Los Angeles, seeks to drop the case entirely, marking another instance where charges against protesters have failed to hold up in court.
Background of the Arrest and Charges
Huerta was arrested on June 6, 2025, during a demonstration against an ICE raid in Los Angeles's garment district, part of a broader crackdown on immigrant communities under the Trump administration. He was initially charged with conspiracy to impede an officer, a felony, but prosecutors later reduced the charge to a misdemeanor of obstruction, resistance, or opposition of a federal officer. The misdemeanor is now on track for dismissal.
Video footage of the incident shows Huerta on the ground with agents on top of him during chaotic confrontations. He was accused of blocking a gate to a warehouse where ICE agents were attempting to make arrests. Huerta was hospitalized after the arrest, and his case became one of the first high-profile criminal prosecutions of a demonstrator objecting to ICE operations.
Government's Motion and Huerta's Response
The Justice Department's filing did not specify a reason for the dismissal but noted that all parties agreed to drop the case. Prosecutors moved for dismissal "with prejudice" by the end of August, meaning the charges cannot be refiled. In a statement, Huerta said, "This means the government is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: the charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice."
Huerta emphasized that he was "singled out" for loudly questioning agents' actions during the raid, recalling being tackled and pepper-sprayed before detention. He referenced broader issues of police violence and conditions in federal detention centers. His lawyers, Abbe David Lowell and Marilyn Bednarski, stated, "This case, like others, sought to silence criticism of the administration's improper immigration actions. Today's filing is proof that David and other critics will not be silenced."
Broader Context of Prosecutorial Losses
The Los Angeles Justice Department has aggressively prosecuted immigrants and protesters for impeding or assaulting immigration officers, but many cases have collapsed in court, with prosecutors facing a streak of losses at trial. Huerta's arrest drew widespread outrage, including from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who criticized the federal government for targeting "one of the most respected labor leaders in this country" and treating him "like a criminal."
Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the US attorney in Los Angeles, defended the prosecution, stating, "The Department of Justice does not arrest people for peacefully protesting." He noted an agreement with Huerta stipulating that if he complied with pre-trial release terms, the case would be dropped. McEvoy also claimed Huerta "agreed to accept responsibility for his actions," though no such agreement has been filed, and Huerta did not admit to any criminal activity in his statement, instead decrying the "weaponization of the judicial system."
Impact and Significance
Huerta's union represents thousands of security officers, janitors, airport workers, and other laborers across California. The dismissal is a major victory for Huerta and his legal team, highlighting what they describe as a flawed justice system willing to charge and then abandon cases that cannot withstand scrutiny. The case underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and protesters exercising First Amendment rights.
