HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Anti-ICE demonstrators turned their attention to the immigration detention center near Bush Airport Friday evening.
Well past sunset, people stood with signs. Some used bullhorns to blast messages like “ICE off our streets now” and “free our people, free them all.”
It’s the latest local demonstration following the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis.
“White people even now are being killed, and ICE is overstepping their boundaries. They’re not following the rule of law,” said Nathan Thornal.
Friday’s protest was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, although some demonstrators said they weren’t opposed to all immigration enforcement.
“Sometimes some of the things that they’re doing maybe aren’t so terrible, but it’s the way they’re doing it, and there’s no accountability, and the stuff that happened in Minneapolis could happen here,” said Hal Puckett.
Data ICE provided for a six-week period last year shows the vast majority of Houston area arrests were purely for immigration violations.
However, 26% of those arrested were also wanted for other crimes. ICE said 13 were wanted for murder, 51 for preying on children, and 67 for sex offenses.
“Illegal is illegal,” said Maria Espinoza with The Remembrance Project. “If you broke the law, then there’s some consequences to pay. Citizens are not given a break. Our officers don’t look the other way when citizens commit crimes.”
For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.