Jewish group blocks entrances to ICE headquarters during protest

A Jewish group blocked the entrance to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of a protest against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Hundreds of protesters, including Jewish people, migrants and other supporters, joined Never Again Action in marching from the National Mall to the agency’s headquarters in sweltering heat, according to live tweets from BuzzFeed News’s Julia Reinstein. The group is protesting the conditions at migrant detention centers on the southern border and the separation of migrant families, as well as calling for an end to ICE. 

Hundreds of Jews, immigrants, and all sorts of allies are marching from the National Mall to protest ICE.

“Never again means close the camps.” pic.twitter.com/YZHIhtZuF6

— julia reinstein (@juliareinstein) July 16, 2019

{mosads} Protesters chanted “Never again means now” and “Abolish ICE” during their march and as they stood with their arms linked in front of the headquarters, blocking the street, parking lot and front doors, according to one tweet from participant Sophie Ellman-Golan.

The parking lot.
The front doors.
The street.

We’ve blocked every entrance to ICE headquarters in DC because #JewsAgainstICE won’t stay silent while immigrants are targeted, rounded up, and put in camps. #NeverAgainIsNow pic.twitter.com/u9Dmpn44r0

— Sophie Ellman-Golan (@EgSophie) July 16, 2019

Another protester claimed that an ICE employee called her “a little bitch” because she was holding a sign that said “ICE KKKOPS NAZIS ALL THE SAME ABOLISH THEM ALL.” Ellman-Golan tweeted a photo of the employee and alleged he also tried to tell protesters his grandchildren are Jewish.

An ICE employee (who wouldn’t tell me his name) came out of the building, and Natalie, this protestor said he called her “a little bitch.”

The employee wouldn’t confirm he’d said it, but said he “didn’t like her sign.” “I’m not a Nazi, I’m a hardworking government employee.” pic.twitter.com/B5XTIZtj56

— julia reinstein (@juliareinstein) July 16, 2019

This ICE employee, who called a @CosechaMovement member a “little bitch,” wanted me to know that his grandchildren are Jewish.

Invoking your Jewish grandchildren to excuse your work terrorizing other people’s grandchildren is sickening. #ShutDownICE #JewsAgainstICE pic.twitter.com/G8ejztcbBr

— Sophie Ellman-Golan (@EgSophie) July 16, 2019

The protest called on leaders on both sides of the aisle to address immigration reform, with demonstrators specifically calling out the Trump administration and carrying a banner aimed at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), reading “Pelosi never again is now.” 

Police also arrived at the protest, and organizers told Reinstein 15 people were arrested when they entered ICE’s building. More arrests are expected.

There’s now a large and tense police presence as the protestors block the road. One of the organizers told me an estimated 15 people were already arrested when they entered the ICE HQ. More may be arrested here soon. pic.twitter.com/gdB5ONvE1r

— julia reinstein (@juliareinstein) July 16, 2019

The Hill has reached out to ICE for comment.