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Tampa follows Los Angeles with immigration protests outside of city hall

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Published  June 9, 2025 11:02pm EDT
Tampa
FOX 13 News
Local protests over ICE raids

Local protests over ICE raids

Evyn Moon reports.

The Brief

    • Hundreds gathered in Tampa on Monday to protest mass deportations, standing in solidarity with Los Angeles demonstrators.
    • Heated moments unfolded between anti-ICE protesters and counter-demonstrators, prompting police intervention — but no violence was reported.
    • Florida conducted the largest immigration enforcement operation in state history this year.

TAMPA, Fla. - Protesters on both sides of the immigration debate rallied outside Tampa City Hall Monday afternoon, as part of a national response to mass deportations and recent ICE raids.

What we know:

The gathering remained largely peaceful, though shouting matches erupted, and Tampa police had to step in to separate groups.

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The demonstration was inspired by weekend protests in Los Angeles and mirrored growing unrest surrounding immigration policies and enforcement under the Trump administration.

What they're saying:

  • "It scares me that people are being rounded up on the streets. I know it starts with immigrants, but doesn’t stop there," said Karen Chamberlain, a protester.
  • "If you really sit down and talk with people, then you can find out that you guys actually agree and disagree on a lot of the same things," said one protester who spoke with a counter-demonstrator to ease tensions. "But it's so much bigger than Tampa. Everybody across the U.S. – people who have lived here their entire lives, we are here to show them that we believe in you and wouldn’t be the United States without you."
  • "I'm an immigrant from Mexico. I got here legally, and I support legal immigration. If you want to come to this country, and you come the right way, I will welcome you with open arms. But, we the people voted for Donald Trump to mass deport anyone who crossed our border illegally," said Adam Francisco, a counter-protester.

The Source: On-the-ground reporting by FOX13’s Evyn Moon, interviews with demonstrators and counter-demonstrators.

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