Federal prosecutors Monday moved to drop a misdemeanor obstruction charge against local labor leader David Huerta, who was arrested last year during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at a downtown garment business.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the move to dismiss the case is “pursuant to an agreement entered into with our office.” But the office insisted the motion was not a suggestion the criminal charge was unwarranted.
“The Department of Justice does not arrest people for peacefully protesting,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Mr. Huerta was charged with unlawfully interfering with the execution of a judicial search warrant. Mr. Huerta has agreed to accept responsibility for his actions. For the last 13 months, he has been compliant with the terms of his bond and has not engaged in the same obstructive behavior that led to his arrest and criminal charges being filed against him.”
Prosecutors said if Huerta “continues to comply with his pretrial release terms,” the case will likely be dismissed by the end of August.
Huerta — the president of the Service Employees International-United Service Workers West union — was originally charged with a felony count of conspiring to impede an immigration officer, but the charge was later downgraded to a misdemeanor count of obstructing a federal officer. The charge stemmed from a June 6, 2025, immigration raid at an Ambiance apparel warehouse in downtown Los Angeles.
Huerta said in a statement Monday that the government’s move to dismiss the case shows that “the charge against me was baseless,” and meant to “intimidate” people protesting immigration enforcement actions.
“That day, I loudly questioned the agents’ actions, and I was singled out for it,” he said. “They claimed my words and my presence interfered with their operation. My actions, however infuriating to the federal agents, were protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution and for that I was tackled, pepper-sprayed and detained. I consider myself fortunate to have been only detained, considering the murders in Minneapolis, Houston, Miami, and the deplorable conditions at federal detention centers throughout the country.
“… The dismissal of this charge doesn’t undo what happened. It doesn’t erase the impact to my family, to the workers at Ambiance Apparel, to our community, or to the thousands of workers and immigrant families who are still being targeted by a lawless administration who has declared open war on working families.”
Video from the scene of the immigration raid showed Huerta being pushed out of the way of a white van being driven onto the warehouse property, then being tackled and taken into custody. A criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court accused Huerta of cursing and taunting federal agents at the scene.
“Sometime later, Huerta and another person sat cross-legged in front of the vehicular gate,” according to an affidavit in support of the complaint.
“Huerta waved at those around him and yelled, `Everybody sit down, sit down!’ In addition to sitting in front of the gate, Huerta at various times stood up and paced in front of the gate, effectively preventing law enforcement vehicles from entering or exiting the premises through the gate to execute the search warrant.”
The affidavit added, “As officers issued instructions to clear the way, Huerta refused to move away from the path of the vehicle and instead stood in front of the vehicle with his hands on his hips.”
Huerta was held for three days before being released on bond.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the authorities speaking out last year on behalf of Huerta, calling him a “respected leader, a patriot and an advocate for working people.”
“No one should ever be harmed with witnessing government action,” Newsom said.
However, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote on social media at the time that Huerta actively obstructed a lawful operation.
“Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at (an) L.A. work site this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle,” he wrote. “He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court. … Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”
Huerta’s lawyers, Abbed David Lowell and Marilyn Bednarski, issued a statement Monday said the case against Huerta “had no legal basis.”
“David Huerta was arrested for peacefully protesting outside an ICE operation, exercising rights protected by the First Amendment,” they said. “This case, like others, sought to silence criticism of the administration’s improper immigration actions. Today’s filing is proof that David and other critics will not be silenced.”