Chants of solidarity echo through downtown Abilene as dozens protest immigration enforcement

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Chants such as “No hate, no fear, Immigrants are welcome here” were heard from downtown Abilene Saturday afternoon as dozens gathered to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies amid ongoing raids by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The demonstration, which focused on raising awareness about ICE, began at 5:00 p.m. on February 1 at Everman Park. Protesters carried signs and flags with messages like “No human is illegal,” aiming to raise awareness about the challenges faced by undocumented individuals in Abilene.

Our station spoke with a couple of demonstrators to learn more about their concerns. Here’s what they shared with us:

Gabriela Trujillo said, “I think that people from anywhere should be welcomed from wherever they came from. And it’s not okay, especially to raid schools or churches.”

Jose Garcia added, “Today, I decided to do this protest just because I have family and friends that don’t have any papers. I feel bad for what’s happening now.”

Gathered in the park, the group hoped their actions would spark a broader conversation about immigration reform. Our crew at the protest shared that no law enforcement was present, and participants followed all traffic laws during the demonstration. Protests like this one have become increasingly common across the country this month, with thousands of Americans voicing their disapproval of the president’s hardline immigration policies.