The Hidden Danger

 ‘No Kings Day’ Put Communities at Risk

Protecting Criminals

Across cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, the recent “No Kings Day” protests drew massive crowds advocating for immigrant communities and civil liberties. While the intention to protect residents and defend rights is understandable, these protests have had an unintended - and dangerous - consequence: by obstructing lawful ICE removals, previously-deported violent criminals, gang members, human traffickers, and drug offenders remain in our neighborhoods, putting every resident at risk. 

Civic activism should protect communities, not compromise public safety.

High-Turnout Cities and ICE Enforcement

New York City: On October 18, 2025, Manhattan saw one of the largest “No Kings Day” turnouts in the nation. Shortly afterward, ICE conducted a raid in Chinatown, arresting nine individuals, including previously-deported offenders. The large crowds and high visibility of the protest may have contributed to criminals temporarily remaining in public spaces, knowing law enforcement actions would be difficult to execute without significant public attention.

Chicago: Similarly, Chicago experienced massive protests throughout the city. In Little Village and Cicero, ICE arrests on October 22 targeted individuals with serious criminal records. The demonstrations, while peaceful, created conditions where offenders could exploit public presence to avoid immediate removal.

Los Angeles: South Los Angeles saw substantial protest participation on October 21. An ICE operation during this period resulted in injuries to a deputy U.S. marshal and a media streamer, highlighting the complex and unpredictable environment law enforcement faces when attempting to remove dangerous offenders amid large protests.

Comparative Control Cities: In contrast, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and San Diego - cities with minimal “No Kings Day” turnout - experienced routine ICE operations, including arrests and detentions of previously-deported offenders, without interference from large crowds. This suggests that high-protest environments can delay or complicate lawful removal efforts.

City	Protest Turnout	Recent ICE Activity	Community Impact
New York City	High	Canal Street raid on Oct 21; 9 arrests	Temporary disruption of enforcement; public outcry
Chicago	High	Little Village & Cicero raids on Oct 22	Offenders may exploit crowd presence
Los Angeles	High	South LA operation Oct 21; injuries during raid	Enforcement complicated; public safety risk
Philadelphia	Low	Routine ICE detention mid-October	No interference; arrests completed
Indianapolis	Low	30+ arrests in 24 hours on Oct 17	Standard enforcement achieved
San Diego	Low	11 detentions at immigration court mid-October	Standard enforcement achieved

Misplaced ‘Victory’

Participants of these protests have claimed “victory” for halting ICE operations. But what is there to celebrate when the outcome is the temporary protection of violent criminals? Children walking to school, seniors in their homes, and families in local parks remain exposed to offenders whose histories include gang violence, drug trafficking, and human exploitation. 

Civic victory cannot be declared when it compromises community safety.

The Contradiction of Claiming Moral Superiority

Some protesters have claimed they are the “sane” people and the “true Americans.” Yet their actions - preventing lawful removal of dangerous criminals - directly compromise public safety. Claiming moral or civic superiority while exposing neighborhoods to violent offenders is contradictory. True civic responsibility prioritizes safe streets, secure communities, and protected workplaces over the temporary obstruction of law enforcement.

The Consequences

• Community Safety Risks: By delaying ICE removals, previously-deported gang members, human traffickers, and drug offenders remain active in high-turnout neighborhoods.

• Disrupted Law Enforcement: High visibility and large crowds make arrests and removals logistically complex, increasing risk to officers and residents.

• Vulnerable Populations at Risk: Children, seniors, and workers face direct exposure to dangerous individuals.

• Neighborhood Stability Threatened: Sustained criminal presence undermines trust, safety, and quality of life in communities.

A Responsible Path Forward

Residents have the right to protest ICE enforcement methods, timing, or policy. However, actively preventing the removal of violent criminals is detrimental to everyone, regardless of intent. Communities can engage constructively by:

• Holding public forums with law enforcement and city officials

• Advocating for transparency and fairness in enforcement procedures

• Working through policy channels to express concerns

Protecting the community’s safety must remain the priority. Civic engagement is meaningful only when it safeguards, not endangers, the people it claims to protect.

Conclusion

The largest “No Kings Day” protests highlighted citizens’ commitment to civil liberties, but the resulting obstruction of ICE removals has created a serious public safety risk. Celebrating the protection of violent offenders is not a victory - it is a danger to every resident, from young children to the elderly. Communities must focus on reforming law enforcement practices where necessary, while ensuring that criminal actors do not exploit public demonstrations to avoid justice. Civic responsibility and community safety must go hand in hand!