Protests spread across US against immigration, foreign policies

China

Protests spread across US against immigration, foreign policies

2026-01-21 13:48 Last Updated At：14:17

A wave of protests broke out across multiple U.S. cities on Tuesday, opposing latest U.S. foreign policies and immigration enforcement raids.

According to organizers, the demonstrations focused on immigration enforcement, racial issues, and U.S. military and fiscal policies, calling for more public resources to be directed toward people's livelihoods.

In Washington, D.C., around 1,000 protesters gathered outside the White House to voice concerns over U.S. domestic and foreign policies, with recent actions involving Greenland and Venezuela among the key issues.

"I am totally opposed to it. I think it's a ridiculous and harmful policy, the Greenland policy," said a protester.

"Like everyone else here, I'm here because our government has gone out of control. ICE is killing people in the street. We are alienating our allies, we're invading other countries. This must stop and we will not accept this," said another protester.

"I feel like the United States is turning into a fascist nation and we want to express our fear and anger. Overall, I think it's a disaster. We should be friendly to our allies, the Europeans and others around the globe," said a protester.

Immigration enforcement raids were another major focus of the protests, with many demonstrators expressing anger over what they described as violent and unlawful actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"It's not really immigration policy. They're going after anybody. It's not about taking illegal people out. It's about attacking anybody who isn't white. And that's wrong. And they're also attacking American citizens and civilians," said another protester.

"I think we have to redo our immigration policy and the way that we carry it out in this country," a protester added.

Hundreds brave cold to protest against US gov't policies in New York City

Braving the freezing cold weather, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of New York City on Tuesday to voice their opposition to a range of U.S. government policies.

In spite of a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius below zero on the day, a growing crowd gathered in front of the New York Public Library to express their dissatisfaction over the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as U.S. violation of international law, with many urging the current administration to shift its focus toward issues affecting people's daily lives, including education and healthcare.

The protest lasted for several hours, with protesters determined to force the government to make changes.

"The U.S. government's attacks on immigrants and U.S. foreign workers alike with the ICE raids. They're using terror on the people. They're trying to crush people's resistance and hope. And so, I'm here to protest against that," said a protester.

"The fight for Palestine, the fight for Sudan, the fight in our own backyard against ICE. Anyone who might follow me back home because I come from a rural area, maybe I can change their minds. But, at the end of the day, you're just going to hope that you can reach people and make a difference," said another protester.

New York City was not the only one to witness such protests, as similar rallies were also held in various locations across the United States on the same day.