Full Breakdown
DOJ Moves to Dismiss Charges Against California Union Leader David Huerta
7/28/2026, 4:08:46 AM
The Dismissal Motion
On Monday, the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case against David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West. Prosecutors indicated the case will be dropped by the end of August if those conditions are met.
Background: 2025 ICE Protest and Initial Charges
The charges stem from a protest on June 6, 2025 outside a Los Angeles warehouse where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were executing a raid. Huerta was recorded on the ground as officers moved to block a vehicular gate. Later that year the charge was reduced to the misdemeanor now slated for dismissal.
Data & Statistics
- Service Employees International Union-California represents more than 750,000 workers, including janitors, security officers, and airport staff.
- The original felony charge carried a potential prison term; the reduced misdemeanor carried a maximum of six months in jail and a fine.
- The dismissal motion follows a pattern of recent DOJ cases in which prosecutions for “impeding” federal officers have collapsed at trial.
Official Statements & Responses
- Ciaran McEvoy, spokesperson for the Los Angeles U.S. attorney’s office, said the Department of Justice does not arrest people for peacefully protesting.
- Bill Essayli, the acting U.S.
- Sen. Chuck Schumer and California’s two Democratic senators wrote to federal officials demanding answers, calling Huerta’s continued detention “deeply troubling.”
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic lawmakers and organized-labor leaders argued that the case was an attempt to silence dissent against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Huerta’s attorneys, Abbe Lowell and Marilyn Bednarski, described the prosecution as “without legal basis” and a “weaponization of the judicial system.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Video from the June 2025 demonstration shows Huerta being tackled, pepper-sprayed, and forced to the ground while officers attempted to secure the gate. He was hospitalized after the arrest and remained in pre-trial detention for more than a year.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Los Angeles U.S. No public copy of the alleged agreement has been released, leaving the exact terms unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California
- “The Department of Justice does not arrest people for peacefully protesting.” — Ciaran McEvoy
What’s Next
If Huerta adheres to his bond conditions, the DOJ expects the case to be fully dismissed by the end of August 2026, precluding any future re-filing of the charge.
