The union leader federal agents detained at an immigration protest in Los Angeles last week is well known to California’s Democratic leadership from his years of activism in and out of the Capitol.
David Huerta, the 58-year-old president of a statewide janitor’s union and of the Service Employees International Union California, was arrested by federal agents Friday outside a Los Angeles garment warehouse where protesters gathered to watch and oppose an apparent workplace immigration raid.
“David Huerta is a respected leader, a patriot, and an advocate for working people,” Gov.
“Everyone knows him,” said Lorena Gonzalez, leader of the California Labor Federation, a politically powerful statewide group of unions.
As leader of the SEIU United Service Workers West, which represents janitors and security guards across California, he’s emphasized English classes and citizenship for members.
California’s Democratic leadership is familiar with the union leader federal agents who were arrested at an immigration demonstration in Los Angeles last week, having been active in and out of the Capitol for years.
Several prominent Democrats jumped to his defense for this reason.
On Friday, federal agents arrested David Huerta, 58, the president of the Service Employees International Union California and a statewide janitor’s union, outside a garment warehouse in Los Angeles where demonstrators had gathered to oppose and observe what appeared to be a workplace immigration raid.
Soon afterward, the denouncements came pouring in.
“A respected leader, patriot, and supporter of working people is David Huerta.”.
Gov. stated in a statement by Gavin Newsom. “No one ought to suffer harm simply for observing government action. “.”.
Huerta, who is still in federal custody, is the head of SEIU California, a strong political force in the state with almost 750,000 members. From janitors and public sector workers to nurses and university researchers, it represents a diverse spectrum of workers.
It is a significant contributor to Democratic candidates, and for some lawmakers, an endorsement bearing its purple emblem is a mark of honor. A $25 minimum wage for all employees at healthcare facilities is one of the union’s recent victories.
According to Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation, a statewide union organization with significant political clout, “everyone knows him.”. Huerta also serves as the federation’s board vice president. He has been with the movement for a very long time. When we sounded the alarm, everyone got to their feet. “”.
Huerta is a U. S. . a citizen. His father was a Teamsters union member, he has stated, and his grandparents came from Mexico to work in the fields. He has been involved in immigration politics for a similar amount of time, led historic wage strikes in Los Angeles, and organized janitors as early as the 1990s.
In a post-9/11 crackdown on illegally employed immigrant baggage handlers and janitors, federal authorities, then operating under the now-defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service, swept through California’s airports. Huerta called for reforms that would enable more workers to obtain their documents.
He has placed a strong emphasis on citizenship and English language instruction for members of SEIU United Service Workers West, the union that represents janitors and security personnel throughout California. In 2016, his union was successful in getting the state to enact enhanced harassment protections and training for janitors, who frequently experience sexual assault while working the night shift alone.
Mike McGuire, Senate President Pro Tem, denounced the “fascist tactics” used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “U. S. . It is “part of a larger campaign of intimidation by the White House,” according to Senator Adam Schiff. “.”.
Congressional Democratic leaders nationwide were denouncing the raids and demanding Huerta’s release by Saturday morning.
The circumstances surrounding Huerta’s arrest are still unclear, but federal authorities accuse him of obstructing agents. Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, a Democrat from Culver City, shared a video on social media on Friday that seems to show police officers wearing vests shoving Huerta to the ground while protesters nearby yell.
U.S. Senator Bill Essayli. S. . On social media, a Los Angeles lawyer claimed that Huerta had “deliberately obstructed” federal agents with a court order by blocking their vehicle. Essayli’s office spokesperson, Ciaran McEvoy, would not disclose the warrant, stating only that the agents were “targeting employers and businesses believed to not be in compliance with federal immigration laws.”. “.”.
On suspicion of obstructing a federal agent, the union leader is being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles and is expected to make his initial appearance Monday afternoon.
When Huerta was hospitalized for injuries sustained during the arrest on Friday, SEIU California issued a statement saying, “Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals.”. “This insanity must be opposed by all of us because it is unjust. “”.
On Monday, the union will stage a demonstration to demand his release.
Gonzalez remarked, “He represents a union that is made up of many immigrant women.”. He is a steadfast and dependable advocate for foreign laborers, and he has led the charge in the fight against deportations and workplace raids as well as for a route to citizenship. “”.
Workers’ advocates and others had gathered to watch federal agents at Ambiance Apparel at the warehouse where Huerta was arrested on Friday. There had also been reports of an immigration raid at Ambiance’s storefront in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles.
That day, ICE served four search warrants and arrested forty-four foreign nationals in the United States, according to ICE. S. . while conducting worksite raids, without permission.
