The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has moved to dismiss charges against David Huerta, a prominent California union leader, who was arrested while protesting an immigration raid in Los Angeles last year. The US attorney’s office in Los Angeles filed a motion on Monday to dismiss the charges against Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West.
Huerta was arrested at a demonstration on 6 June 2025, protesting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. He was initially charged with “conspiracy to impede an officer,” a felony, which was later downgraded to a misdemeanor of “obstruction, resistance, or opposition of a federal officer.”
The DoJ's filing on Monday did not specify the reason for the dismissal, stating that all parties agreed for the case to be dropped. Prosecutors' motion calls for the case to be fully dismissed "with prejudice" by the end of August, meaning the charges cannot be brought again.
Huerta stated on Monday that the charge against him was “baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice.” Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the US attorney in LA, defended the prosecution, stating that the DoJ does not arrest people for peacefully protesting and that an agreement was reached with Huerta.