About 2,000 people gathered at Ervan Chew Park in the Montrose area Sunday afternoon in a peaceful but forceful protest against federal immigration enforcement practices, declaring that the aggressive ICE tactics seen in other parts of the country will not be tolerated in Houston.
By: Nathaniel Greene, Community & Culture Reporter
About 2,000 people gathered at Ervan Chew Park in the Montrose area Sunday afternoon in a peaceful but forceful protest against federal immigration enforcement practices, declaring that the aggressive ICE tactics seen in other parts of the country will not be tolerated in Houston.
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The demonstration, organized by Immigrating Youth Texas, came on the heels of a series of recent national incidents involving immigration enforcement, including the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and the detainment of a 5-year-old child and his father, cases that have intensified public concern over the use of force and the treatment of families during immigration operations. Protesters said those incidents reflect a troubling pattern that places children and communities at risk.
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Families, students, faith leaders, and advocacy groups filled the park, holding signs, chanting, and listening to speakers who described the emotional toll immigration enforcement has taken on children and families nationwide. Organizers emphasized that while policy decisions may be made at the federal level, the consequences are felt most deeply at the community level.
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Volunteers with Sister 2 Sistah were among those moving through the crowd, sharing citizenship and legal-resource information from the Naturalize Now Houston campaign, an initiative led by the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). The campaign works to connect eligible permanent residents with trusted guidance and local support as they pursue U.S. citizenship.
Texas Southern University student Erin Slaughter said the gathering reinforced the power of collective action and the importance of amplifying voices often left unheard.
“Being among people who refuse to stay silent, who refuse to accept the injustices forced upon them, is always empowering,” Slaughter said. “It makes me want to join the fight, amplify their stories, and help them reclaim their voices.”
Organizers described the protest as more than a march, calling it a moment of shared grief, unity, and resistance. Speakers repeatedly stressed that children should not be treated as collateral damage in immigration enforcement and called for policies rooted in dignity, safety, and humanity.
As the crowd dispersed, the message from Houston was unmistakable: the city is watching, organized, and prepared to stand against enforcement practices residents say threaten families, children, and community trust.
