(Radio Iowa) – Several hundred demonstrators rallied in downtown Des Moines last (Tuesday) night in opposition to ICE raids in Los Angeles and the Trump administration deploying Marines and the National Guard against protestors. Similar rallies have happened in Sioux City, Davenport and Cedar Rapids in recent days. Angel Pavon is a college student from Des Moines. He says migrants want to make a life in the U.S. but federal officials are calling them a danger to the public.  “They’re being told we’re the danger, we’re bringing the chaos. But they’re not seeing us fully,” Pavon says. “They’re not seeing the fear we live in, the silence that we’re forced into, the pain we carry every time another door gets kicked in.” There was no police presence at the Des Moines rally, but it followed a social media post from Governor Kim Reynolds that appeared to be a warning. She said in a post on X that peaceful demonstrations are welcome but unlawful behavior will be stopped immediately.

Officials with the Omaha Police Department said Tuesday, immigration operations took place in the city after a raid was reported Tuesday morning. In a statement, officials said the Department of Homeland Security notified OPD of the operations and Omaha Police Officers were assisting with traffic control and public safety in the areas of the operation. ICE confirmed there was one raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement in Omaha on Tuesday morning. The raid was at the Glenn Valley Foods plant. Company officials told KETV  authorities came to their facility and “served a warrant to search for persons believed to be using fraudulent documents to gain employment.” Glenn Valley Foods said they use E-Verify as part of their hiring process and are being cooperative with authorities.

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon confirmed 75 to 80 people were detained, and it was roughly the same number of men and women. A spokesperson for ICE said “Reports of any other ICE operation and/or attempted operations in the Omaha area is simply disinformation being used to confuse the American public.”  The raids were protested by members of the Omaha and Lincoln, NE communities, Tuesday.