A large gathering of supporters filled Pan American Neighborhood Park in East Austin on Saturday, rallying against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as prominent Texas Democrats took the stage. The event was marked by poignant personal stories, including that of Evelyn, a mother of three, who recounted the heartbreaking moment her husband, Francisco, was detained by ICE officers last December. While on his way to work, Francisco called her from a gas station to say he would be late, only to be interrupted by a police officer who approached him under the pretext of a traffic violation.
“He told me he wouldn’t be home late that day, and then he said, ‘Wait for me, a police officer is here,’” Evelyn shared with the crowd. “They claimed his car light was out. He hung up, and I haven’t heard from him since.” Through the assistance of the Mexican Consulate, she discovered that Francisco was taken to a detention center in South Texas, but details about his situation remain scarce.
As Evelyn recounted her experience to an audience of around 5,000, the crowd overflowed into the parking garage across the street, waving signs demanding “Abolish ICE” and “Make America Free Again.” With passion, she called for the release of her husband and others caught in similar circumstances. “ICE destroyed my family,” she declared. “He was simply getting gas for work. My husband is not a criminal; he is a dedicated father and husband.”
The rally follows a series of vigils, walkouts, and protests that have surged in Austin and across the nation in response to recent violent incidents involving immigration enforcement. Lawmakers took to the stage to energize the crowd, leading chants that emphasized the importance of community solidarity and the need for civic engagement.
“There is no easy way out of this, folks,” Congressman Joaquin Castro from San Antonio stated. “We must vote our way out of this in November.” Texans will soon head to the polls to elect their governor, lieutenant governor, and various local and state officials.
The event also provided attendees with opportunities to register to vote. Jennifer Dawson, a newcomer to Austin from Kansas, seized the moment to sign up. “I’ve never been an activist before,” she admitted. “I’ve always been a wallflower, but it’s impossible to ignore what’s happening right now. If I’m going to be part of history, this is my moment.”
In closing, Austin State Rep. James Talarico urged unity and action, declaring, “America needs patriots now more than ever. It needs individuals who believe in our country and are willing to fight for her.”
This rally took place in the wake of a national outcry following the deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by immigration officers in Minnesota. Austin nurses held a vigil for Pretti, an ICU nurse, while hundreds of students from several local schools staged walkouts, and local businesses temporarily closed in protest of ICE operations.
“We are here to demand in one voice an end to Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine,” Congressman Greg Casar from Austin proclaimed at the rally. “No more ICE terrorizing Minneapolis. No more ICE terrorizing Austin. No more killings like Renee Good or Alex Pretti. No more arresting our veterans and our families.”
Calls for a thorough investigation into ICE’s actions have also come from Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, who was among the first in the Texas GOP to advocate for scrutiny of the agency’s operations. Although he could not be interviewed before the rally, McCaul expressed on social media that a comprehensive investigation is essential to restore public confidence in the justice system.
Similarly, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz acknowledged the need for an investigation, stating that such inquiries are standard procedure whenever an officer is involved in a shooting. “What exactly transpired?” he questioned, indicating he would await the findings of the investigation.
