President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to quell violent protests after ICE’s largest Nebraska raid at Glenn Valley Foods resulted in the detention of 70 illegal immigrants, while warning that future riots would be met with significant force.
Key Takeaways
- ICE detained approximately 70 illegal immigrants at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, in the largest immigration enforcement operation in the state since President Trump took office.
- Violent protests erupted following the raid, with demonstrators throwing rocks at federal vehicles and physically obstructing immigration officers.
- President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members and several hundred Marines to restore order, a move that prompted California Governor Newsom to file a lawsuit against the administration.
- The Omaha raid is part of a larger immigration enforcement effort that has sparked protests in multiple cities across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
- The administration has made it clear it will continue immigration enforcement operations despite the protests, with Trump warning that future riots will be met with significant force.
Federal Raid Triggers Violent Response in Omaha
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a federal search warrant at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, detaining between 70-80 workers suspected of being in the country illegally. The operation marked the largest immigration enforcement action in Nebraska since President Trump returned to office. According to company ownership, federal investigators had identified 97 employees using false identification documents, despite the company’s use of the federal E-Verify system designed to confirm work eligibility.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and federal law enforcement partners, executed a federal search warrant at Glenn Valley Foods today, based on an ongoing criminal investigation into the large-scale employment of aliens without authorization to work in the United States,” said Tanya Roman, ICE spokesperson
The scene quickly deteriorated as community members, including families of detained workers, gathered at the facility. What began as an attempt to provide documentation for detained workers rapidly evolved into a confrontational protest. According to local reports, demonstrators blocked federal vehicles, with some individuals jumping onto moving ICE vehicles. The Flatwater Free Press reported that protesters “threw rocks and debris at the cars, shattering one window” while shouting profanities at law enforcement officers.
National Guard Deployment and Executive Response
In response to the escalating situation in Omaha and similar protests across the country, President Trump took decisive action by deploying 2,000 National Guard members and several hundred Marines to restore order. The deployment represents a significant escalation in the federal response to what has become a nationwide pattern of violent protests against immigration enforcement actions. The President has made it clear that while peaceful protest is protected, violence against federal officers and obstruction of lawful enforcement operations will not be tolerated.
“ICE will continue to enforce the law,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
California Governor Newsom responded to the troop deployment by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the President’s authority to deploy National Guard troops within state borders without gubernatorial approval. This legal challenge comes as protests continue to spread across major urban centers, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City, and Boston, many resulting in multiple arrests and property damage.
National Pattern of Escalating Protests
The Omaha situation reflects a growing national pattern of increasingly confrontational protests against immigration enforcement. In San Francisco, protests resulted in over 150 arrests and significant vandalism. Philadelphia saw 15 arrests with injuries to both officers and protesters. Austin protests resulted in police deploying chemical irritants after officers were injured by demonstrators. These incidents demonstrate a coordinated resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration policies that has become increasingly violent.
“Individuals are always free to exercise their First Amendment rights in San Francisco, but violence, especially against SFPD officers, will never be tolerated,” said the San Francisco police
Activist groups are organizing additional demonstrations, including “No Kings” events designed to coincide with President Trump’s upcoming military parade in Washington. Meanwhile, community organizers in areas affected by raids continue to mobilize protesters. “We can’t do anything at the worksites. But we can show that this is our community and this is breaking up our families,” said Anna Hernandez, an organizer involved in the Omaha protests. The President has made it clear that these protests will not deter planned enforcement actions, warning that additional immigration raids are forthcoming and that violent resistance will be met with significant force.
