Multiple San Diego County protests target ICE and corporate ties

Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement unfolded across San Diego County on Friday, with demonstrations reported in Escondido, El Cajon, Lakeside and Mira Mesa. Protesters called for ICE to leave their communities and urged corporations to stop housing agents in local hotels.

In Escondido, demonstrators voiced strong opposition to ICE activity.

“I want ICE out of my community and I want them out now,” one protester said.

In El Cajon, residents said concerns about ICE presence have been growing.

“Well, there are rumors that it’s coming to our city, and I think it’s only a matter of time. So the sooner and quicker that we all push back, and the harder we push back, the better,” said protestor Gabriel Medina.

In Lakeside, dozens of people gathered, expressing fear and frustration over ICE operations.

“It’s like being punched in the gut. It’s just horrible that our country could come to this. That masked thugs could be on our streets hauling people off our streets. Sometimes they’re American citizens, sometimes they’re children. It’s just deplorable that our country has come to this,” said Suzanne Davis.

Several groups also called on corporations, including Hilton, to stop housing ICE agents at hotels across the country. Earlier this month, Hilton removed its branding from a franchise after it refused to rent a room to an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

“To imagine that our large corporations will not take a position when people are being swept off the streets, when families are being separated, when a woman was murdered in the name of ICE,” said Connie Elder.

Local students joined one of the protests outside a Hampton Inn, a Hilton-branded hotel.

At each location, protesters said they hope the impact of their message matters more than the size of the crowd.

“So maybe people that aren’t paying attention, that maybe drive by and get the message, maybe it inspires them to look a little further into what is happening and to hopefully take action, get educated, and spread the word amongst their family and their communities,” said Medina.

Earlier this month, Hilton released a statement in response to an ICE agent being refused a room at one of its branded hotels, saying it is a welcoming place for all and does not tolerate any form of discrimination. NBC 7 has not heard back from Hilton or ICE regarding the recent protests.

Also on Friday, half a dozen people were taken into custody by police after they locked themselves inside San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s office for several hours, demanding that the city of San Diego stop cooperating with ICE raids. The mayor, both in an executive order and in policy speeches, has previously stated the city does not participate in federal immigration enforcement.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.

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