Chula Vista protesters rally against ICE arrests of people with no prior criminal convictions

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Protesters rallied on Thursday against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s arrests of individuals without criminal convictions.  

The demonstration was organized by Indivisible Chula Vista, a group that holds rallies every weekend. On Thursday the group joined the “Out of CECOT” nationwide day of action to protest what organizers call “a dramatic increase in ICE arrests of individuals without criminal convictions,” according to a press release.  

The group cited a recent San Diego Union Tribune article that reports more than 70% of people in San Diego arrested by ICE in June had no criminal convictions or charges.  

Organizers are gathering weekly to call for the end of ICE arrests of people with no prior convictions, operations that “instill fear and disrupt workplaces,” and arrests of people attending immigration hearings, according to the press release.  

"We just want people to be aware that people are being treated horribly,” said Janine Manchel, an organizer with Indivisible Chula Vista. “We’re going back to 1938 Germany where they were attacking my family members and now, they’re attacking my friends and my community. It’s not acceptable.” 

Protesters wore the colors of the American flag and shirts that read “No Kings in America.” The “Out of CECOT” nationwide day of action was to bring attention to El Salvador’s mega-prison that the Trump administration has had a relationship with, according to Manchel.

“We’re here about El Salvador, to bring some awareness to what’s going on, they’re just detaining people without due process,” Manchel said. “It’s just unacceptable and we just want people to know what’s going on.”