A group of protesters walking along a waterfront path with the city skyline visible in the distance under a cloudy blue sky. A person in the foreground holds a sign that reads, "Immigrants MAKE America Great."
The City of Seattle sits across Elliott Bay as activists march down Alki Beach with protest signs on Feb. 2, 2025.(Photo: Alex Garland)

Hundreds Brave Cold at Alki Beach to Protest ICE and Trump's Immigration Policies

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Despite freezing temperatures and the threat of snow, hundreds of passionate demonstrators gathered at the Alki Beach Bathhouse in Seattle on Sunday, Feb. 2, to protest the Donald Trump administration's approach to immigration and the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The rally, which drew a diverse crowd of activists, families, and community members, highlighted the growing concerns over the treatment of immigrants — both documented and undocumented — under the current administration.

As the protest began, marchers carried signs and chanted slogans calling for an end to deportations and the separation of families. The group made its way along Alki Beach, passing homes where residents showed their support by waving from balconies or cheering from sidewalks. Even joggers and beachgoers paused to applaud the demonstrators.

A person wearing a black jacket and cap holds up a cardboard sign that reads, "MAKE RACISTS AFRAID AGAIN" during a protest. Other protesters in the background hold signs with messages, including "NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND," against a backdrop of trees and a bright sky.
A demonstrator at the Protest Against ICE on Alki holds a handwritten sign.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A protester wearing a blue beanie and gloves holds a white sign with bold, handwritten text that reads, "SAY NO TO GUANTANAMO," with "NO" and "GUANTANAMO" emphasized in orange. The background shows a clear blue sky and the edge of a roofline.
An activist holds a sign protesting the ICE detention camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A group of protesters marching outdoors, holding signs. A woman in the foreground holds a sign that reads, "NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND" in bold, black letters. Other signs in the background include messages like "TODOS SOMOS INMIGRANTES" with a butterfly illustration, and "DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU."
A protester holds a sign that touches on the U.S. treatment of Indigenous people.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A group of protesters marching down a street near a waterfront, holding signs and flags. One person prominently carries a Mexican flag merged with the U.S. flag, while another holds a sign that reads, "ACCEPT OUR EXISTENCE OR EXPECT RESISTANCE," with the Mexican flag in the background. Other signs include messages such as "IMMIGRANTS MAKE AMERICA GREAT." The crowd stretches into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Marches round a curve on Alki as one demonstrator holds a sign saying "Accept Our Existence or Expect Our Resistance" during the march against ICE.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A person wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and neon green gloves jogs along a paved path by the waterfront. Their right arm is raised in a triumphant gesture.
A jogger holds a fist of solidarity while running past the march against ICE.(Photo: Alex Garland)

Dozens of cars adorned with Mexican flags joined the procession, honking horns and amplifying the voices of those on foot. The display of unity underscored the protesters' widespread frustration with policies that have left many immigrants living in fear of deportation. Protesters emphasized that the issue extends beyond undocumented individuals, affecting families and communities as a whole.

Among the more pointed messages were signs targeting high-profile figures. Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire and a member of Trump's inner circle, was a frequent subject of criticism. Protesters called for his deportation, citing his controversial statements and close ties to the administration. Trump himself was not spared, with many signs referencing his recent felony conviction in response to his hardline immigration stance.

The protest at Alki Beach is part of a broader national movement pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and an end to policies that many view as inhumane.

A group of protesters walking outdoors, holding signs with messages. A young man in the foreground, wearing a sombrero and a Mexican flag draped over his shoulders, holds a sign that reads, "You can't love the culture & not support the people." Another protester holds a sign stating, "Y'all don't look for missing kids this hard!"
A protester in a serape and sombrero holds a sign questioning people's love of Mexican culture but not Mexican people.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A silver car with a large Mexican flag attached to its roof drives down a street. The driver, wearing a face mask, gives a thumbs-up gesture through the open window. A black pickup truck follows closely, with another person visible inside holding their hand out of the window.
Vehicles with Mexican flags drove next to the march honking horns and showing support to the marchers.(Photo: Alex Garland)
A person wearing a bright pink shirt stands on the balcony of a modern, multi-level home with glass railings, arms raised in an enthusiastic gesture.
Residents along Alki stepped out of their homes to clap and show support for the march against ICE.(Photo: Alex Garland)
Three women stand in a grassy area near a waterfront, holding handmade protest signs. One sign reads, "Love is Resistance" with a globe and multicolored hands. Another says, "Have Empathy," and the third states, "United We Stand" with imagery of the U.S. flag and rainbow hearts.
Protestors at a protest in Alki against ICE listen to speakers at Seacrest Park Cove 3, with Seattle visible in the background.(Photo: Alex Garland)

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