LOS ANGELES (PulseWire) — David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from his arrest during a protest against an immigration raid earlier this year. His trial is scheduled to commence on January 20, 2026.
Huerta was apprehended on June 6, 2025, while he participated in a demonstration outside a business in Los Angeles where federal agents were investigating perceived immigration violations. Initially charged with obstruction of a federal officer, the felony charge was dismissed by federal prosecutors last month.
On Tuesday, Huerta entered a plea of not guilty to the misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge, reported the Los Angeles Times. During the protest, Huerta encouraged demonstrators to encircle the area and sat in front of a vehicular gate to impede law enforcement access, according to a Homeland Security Investigations agent’s earlier court filing.
Following his arrest, Huerta’s case garnered significant attention and support from immigrant rights advocates nationwide, rallying calls for an end to what many have described as the harsh immigration policies of previous administrations. His attorneys, Abbe David Lowell and Marilyn Bednarski, stated they would pursue a swift trial to clear Huerta's name.
Huerta leads a union representing hundreds of thousands of workers, including janitors and security officers across California. His case continues to symbolize the broader struggles surrounding immigration enforcement and rights in the United States.
