A prominent California union leader is facing a federal charge after he was arrested on Friday, June 6 during a confrontation with authorities at an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles.
David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California (SEIU), is facing one charge of felony conspiracy to impede an officer after he was arrested by federal officers on Friday, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.
Huerta remained in federal custody until Monday, June 9, when he was released on $50,000 bond, according to multiple reports.
UPDATE: David Huerta had been released from custody. pic.twitter.com/FcBAXGe9ys
— SEIU California (@seiucalifornia) June 9, 2025
Crowds had gathered in downtown Los Angeles to demand for Huerta’s release.
Federal prosecutors allege that Huerta “deliberately obstructed” agents from accessing a worksite suspected of employing undocumented immigrants by sitting in front of the business’s only entrance gate for vehicles.
SEIU California said Huerta was injured as he was detained by police.
Following his arrest, Huerta issued a statement calling for people to stand together against injustice.
“What happened to me is not about me. This is about something much bigger,” Huerta said in a statement obtained by local news stations. “We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. And we all have to stand on the right side of justice.”
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli reaffirmed federal prosecutors’ allegations against Huerta in a post on X on Friday.
“Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are − if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties,” he said.
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Labor leaders demand for Huerta’s release
In a statement to USA TODAY on June 9, April Verrett, International President of the SEIU, demanded Huerta’s release.
“SEIU refuses to be silent in the face of these horrific attacks on working communities. Standing in solidarity as a movement of working people is not new to us,” Verrett said. “We demand David Huerta’s immediate release and an end to these abusive workplace raids.”
According to ABC 7, State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez condemned Huerta’s arrest.
“It is such a scary time right now, to watch this happen. I have people like my mom asking me ‘If they can come for the president of our entire union so brazenly and attack him in this way then what does that mean for the rest of us?'” Perez said.
Arrest comes before protests build through the weekend
Huerta’s arrest comes as the Trump administration continues to increase measures against anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles for what is expected to last 60 days, according to California’s adjutant general.
In a social media post, Newsom blamed Trump for the increase in unrest after three days of protests, saying, “we’re suing him.”
“Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority. This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic,” Newsom said in a statement.
Contributing: John Bacon, Trevor Hughes and N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California union leader David Huerta faces felony charge, out on bond
