Workers brave frigid temps to protest ICE actions around the country

More than 150 people attend the “Working People Against ICE” rally at Springfield City Hall.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — Bitterly cold temperatures did not stop more than 150 members of area unions from coming out on Feb. 7 to rally against actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota and elsewhere under the administration of President Donald Trump.

The “Working People Against ICE” rally on the steps of Springfield City Hall attracted representatives from members of 25 different labor organizations and unions, according to community organizer Joseph Bonilla, who emceed the event.

Bonilla read a list of demands for the state Legislature that included passage state House bill H.1588 and its counterpart in the Senate, S.1122, which would prevent ICE from renting beds in local jails and end legal agreements that allow local and state law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement tasks for ICE. Also, on the list of demands is the mandating of virtual access to Massachusetts court hearings so people can participate without fear of ICE detaining them.

Speaking on behalf of the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation, Jeff Jones said, “We’re here today standing in solidarity with our fellow workers in Minneapolis, Chicago, L.A. or wherever the current regime sends its army of occupation.” He described ICE as an “unaccountable army” that is “targeting virtually everyone who is not white and English speaking.” Like many people who spoke, he called for the abolition of ICE and defunding of Homeland Security. “If the Democratic party cannot deliver, they need to get out of the way.”

Between speeches, the crowd was led in protest chants and songs, including one in which the lyrics of “Hit the Road Jack,” by Ray Charles, were changed to “Hit the road, ICE, and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.”

Adrien, who only wanted to give their first name, is a member of SEIU Local 509 and a co-chair of River Valley Democratic Socialists of America. They told the crowd, “We just watched two U.S. citizens — unarmed, nonviolent — murdered in the street and they tried to tell us that what we saw wasn’t true.”

Adrien shared a quote by Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” They went on to say, “We are living in a system in which we are living to work so that we are too tired to stand up for what’s right, too tired to see what’s going on behind the scenes and the systems in place that keep us down.” They added, “The same systems that have been locking up Black and brown U.S. citizens are the same systems locking up immigrants.”

Massachusetts Nurses Association member Claire Shillington called ICE “a threat to public health.” She said that the nursing community was mourning Alex Pretti, the Veterans’ Administration intensive care nurse who was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, as well as “the people not receiving the same attention.” Like others, she called for the abolition of ICE and urged elected officials to “do whatever is necessary to hold the Trump administration accountable for its ongoing violation of our constitutional and human rights.”

Jesse Lederman, regional director for U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and former Springfield city councilor, read a statement from the senator at the rally. “Trump may be trying to break our backs, but no one knows how to fight better than our unions,” Markey’s statement read. “And here in Massachusetts,” he said, “We know immigrants built our nation. We know what a true democracy looks like because we created it here 250 years ago.”

Markey stated that Trump’s homeland security adviser, Stephen Miller, had conducted a “reign of terror” and called for the abolition of ICE and the end of qualified immunity. “Qualified immunity prevents Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s families from suing the men who murdered their loved ones, and it must end,” Lederman read.

Emphasizing that ICE riads and detentions are not only an issue on other parts of the country, Bonilla shared the story of Juan David, “a Springfield father with no criminal record and a survivor of labor trafficking. He was detained by ICE at a December 2025 immigration check-in.

Bonilla explained that David had been granted T-nonimmigrant status, a legal temporary immigration status enabling certain victims of severe human trafficking to remain in the United States. Despite this, an immigration judge denied his ability to remain in the state. David now faces potential deportation. Bonilla said ICE has been targeting David’s family and that his wife was detained for months early last year after a “brutal arrest.”

Bonilla urged people to reach out to members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to secure an emergency stay of removal for David, so he is not deported before his legal case is decided. “Our neighbor is just as deserving of the dignity and respect that we all hold. So, show up, speak out and call today,” he told the protesters.

“What’s happening in this country in unconscionable,” said state Sen. Jake Oliviera. He said people are afraid to walk their children to school, go to hospitals or even leave their homes because of ICE raids.” He said ICE was “terrifying” the people and families in the United States. He added that he had attended the rally because, “People need to come out into the streets.”

Agawam City Councilor Tom Hendrickson, who is running against state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, attended the rally. He said his opponent was had introduced legislation to require local and state law enforcement to cooperate with ICE. “I think he’s totally wrong about that,” Hendrickson said.

“When it comes to immigration policy, I’m informed by my own family,” said Hendrickson. “My grandparents immigrated here in the mid-20th century, and I often think about how I would have wanted them to be treated when they came here. Is it with the support and the resources and the tools that people need to live the American dream — a pathway to citizenship; a good-paying job; a safe, affordable place to live? Or is it with the chaos and cruelty that we have seen in Minneapolis and throughout the country under this administration?”

Hendrickson added, “So, to me it’s clear. I believe in the humanity of all people and the dignity of all people and my opponent disagrees.”

Among the last people to speak were representatives of Luce, the Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts. They shared information on how to “keep your own communities safe” from ICE raids. Luce operates a hotline people can call when they spot ICE in their area. She urged people to donate money, volunteer to answer the multi-language hotline or become a “verifier.”