Federal Charges to Be Dismissed Against Union Leader & Labor Summer Institute Guest David Huerta

This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California moved to dismiss criminal charges against SEIU-United Service Workers West President David Huerta, who was arrested while protesting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in California. Huerta will be a special guest at our Labor Summer Institute on August 5-6, at the University of Maine in Orono.

Huerta made national headlines when he was arrested by federal agents on June 6, 2025 while peacefully observing an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles to ensure garment workers' rights were protected. He was initially charged with felony conspiracy, but federal prosecutors downgraded it to a misdemeanor obstruction charge.  The union and legal advocates have condemned the arrest as politically motivated retaliation. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge of obstructing a federal officer in November.

"Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dropping its charge against me," Huerta said in a statement on Tuesday. "This means the government is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: the charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice. There was never a real case, only an attempt to punish and silence me for exercising my constitutional rights."

Huerta said he was singled out for arrest after loudly questioning immigration agents' action and was tackled, pepper sprayed and detained, in violation of his First Amendment rights.

"I consider myself fortunate to have been only detained, considering the murders in Minneapolis, Houston, Miami, and the deplorable conditions at federal detention centers throughout the country," he continued, adding, "The dismissal of this charge doesn’t undo what happened. It doesn’t erase the impact to my family, to the workers at Ambiance Apparel, to our community, or to the thousands of workers and immigrant families who are still being targeted by a lawless administration who has declared open war on working families.

"The administration’s weaponization of the judicial system never deterred me from fighting for what’s right. I will keep exercising my constitutional rights and protest every abuse this administration commits, and I will keep working to build a country that treats immigrant families and all workers with the dignity they deserve....We will not be silenced. We will not be divided. And we will keep fighting until every worker and every family is safe from raids, separation, and fear."