Miami-Dade County witnessed a large demonstration on Saturday outside the federal-level immigrants’ detention facility, where 31 individuals were taken into custody after refusing orders to vacate the entrance gate. The protest aimed to draw attention to immigration detention practices and the treatment of detainees, as demonstrators intentionally blocked access to the site in a show of civil disobedience.
Protesters Confront Facility Entrance and Face Arrests
Activists gathered early in the day outside the entrance to the federal detention center in Miami-Dade, carrying banners and chanted slogans demanding that the facility be shut down and detainees released. According to authorities, the group refused multiple requests to move and obstructed the main gate. After repeated warnings, deputies on scene made 31 arrests — primarily on trespassing charges. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Organisers’ Message: End Immigrant Detention and Deportation Policies
The demonstration was organised by a coalition of immigration-rights groups who called out the detention facility’s operations under federal immigration enforcement. Many of the protesters travelled from across South Florida and beyond, highlighting concerns over deportation practices, conditions inside immigrant holding facilities, and broader policy frameworks. They held signs with messages invoking “ICE kidnapped my neighbour” and carried photographs of individuals who they say died while in custody.
Response from Authorities and Next Steps
The sheriff’s office emphasised that while the right to peacefully protest is protected, access to government facilities and public safety must also be preserved. They stated that the protest’s blockade of the entrance forced deputies to intervene to restore order. Those arrested were taken into custody at the nearby Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and are expected to appear in court for trespass-related charges. The detention centre’s status and conditions remain a focal point for advocacy groups as public scrutiny intensifies.
