Mesa, Arizona – January 12, 2026, 07:17:21 MST – Hundreds of activists converged in Mesa this weekend as part of a nationwide demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protests, held January 10th and 11th, where triggered by a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis and represent a growing wave of opposition to the agency’s policies and operations.
The Mesa demonstration, one of approximately 1,200 actions that took place across the country under the banner of “ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action,” focused on raising awareness about ICE’s impact on local communities and providing crucial legal rights details to residents. The protest was centered at 330 S. Gilbert Road, drawing participants from various advocacy groups and concerned citizens.
Organizers stated the weekend of action aimed to highlight concerns regarding ICE’s detention practices, deportation policies, and the overall treatment of immigrants. The minneapolis shooting, which is currently under examination, served as a catalyst for the coordinated protests, amplifying calls for increased accountability and systemic change within the agency.
Beyond protesting ICE operations, activists actively distributed materials detailing individuals’ rights during encounters with immigration officials. This outreach effort aimed to empower community members with knowledge and resources to protect themselves against potential abuses of power.
The nationwide protests signal a continued and intensifying resistance to ICE’s policies. Advocacy groups are leveraging these demonstrations to pressure lawmakers to enact immigration reform and to reconsider funding for ICE. The events in Mesa,and across the nation,underscore the deep divisions surrounding immigration policy in the United States and the ongoing debate over the role of ICE in enforcing those policies.