US justice department dismisses charges against California union leader

The US Department of Justice has moved to dismiss charges against prominent California union leader David Huerta. Huerta, president of SEIU United Service Workers West, was arrested in June 2025 during a protest against an ICE operation in Los Angeles. Initially charged with a felony, the charges were later downgraded to a misdemeanor. The US attorney's office in LA filed a motion to dismiss the case, stating all parties agreed to the dismissal. Huerta stated the charges were baseless and intended to intimidate protesters. His arrest occurred during a demonstration against the Trump administration's crackdown on immigrant communities. Huerta was hospitalized after his arrest, and his prosecution drew criticism from local officials. A spokesperson for the US attorney's office stated the DOJ does not arrest people for peaceful protest and that an agreement was reached for the case to be dropped if Huerta complied with pre-trial release terms.

Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss the case against David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California, who was arrested in June 2025 while protesting an immigration raid in Los Angeles. The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles filed a motion to dismiss the charge of interfering with a judicial search warrant, stating that if Huerta continues to comply with his pretrial release terms, the case is expected to be fully dismissed by the end of next month. Huerta's lawyers stated the prosecution lacked legal basis and was an attempt to silence criticism of the administration's immigration actions. This is the latest case to falter in the Justice Department's efforts to prosecute individuals accused of hindering federal officers during protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Huerta was arrested for allegedly impeding federal agents at a business where immigration violations were being investigated.