Our Statement on Denouncing the Authoritarian Actions of the Trump Administration

The United States of America is a country that prides itself on the values of hard work, freedom of expression, and the right to assemble peacefully in the face of injustice. 

The actions being taken by the Trump Administration, such as the deployment of the National Guard in the streets of California and the indiscriminate arrests being made by ICE across the nation, are not just shocking to the conscience but constitute urgent and immediate threats to the very principles upon which our democracy was founded.

As expressed by our own Congresswoman Veronica Escobar at a town hall event she recently held in Horizon City,

What is happening in our country today is contrary not just to our values, but to everything that makes our communities safe. When federal agents do not identify themselves, wear unmarked uniforms, and ride unmarked vehicles, essentially mimicking a police state, our country becomes less safe. Immigration courts are important because we want people to present themselves for their day in court, to have their case heard and a decision rendered.

This process allows us to know who should remain in our country and who should not. That is why courthouses should be considered sensitive spaces where law enforcement should not enter, so that people willingly show up to plead their case to the federal government. The actions currently being taken by the Trump administration will result in people not showing up to court and instead choosing to go underground and hide. This does not make us safe and instead undermines the very system of justice that leads people to seek safety and protection in the United States in the first place.

We cannot normalize the creation of the police state mentality that Trump is fostering. Both he and Greg Abbott have chosen to deploy the National Guard in a manner that is unconstitutional, as seen in Los Angeles and San Antonio.

We have also seen our elected federal representatives, like US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, have the door slammed in her face for trying to ask questions and demand answers on our behalf. US Senator Alex Padilla was thrown to the ground by law enforcement agents when he challenged this administration about their unlawful actions at a public press conference.

This is not normal. 

This is not acceptable. 

This is un-American.

These tactics are being used by this administration to instill fear in all of us by making us afraid to question their actions or speak out against them. The El Paso County Democratic Party stands united against these tactics.

We urge everyone who seeks to stand up in defense of our democracy to join us on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Edgemere and Airway, alongside other partner organizations, to protest these actions together. Our presence will serve as a powerful statement against the authoritarian measures of this administration.

We stand with the people across the country who are exercising their constitutional right to peacefully assemble in the pursuit of justice and accountability. Our commitment to democratic values remains unwavering, and we will continue to fight to protect them.

The use of intimidation tactics and federal overreach is not leadership—it is a betrayal of the public trust. But we must stand together and make our voices heard. 

The El Paso County Democratic Party calls on everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to denounce these authoritarian measures and to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law, human dignity, and the right of every American to protest peacefully without fear of state-sponsored retaliation.