California labor leader pleads not guilty to misdemeanor over immigration protest
November 26, 2025
The leader of a major labor union in Southern California who was arrested while protesting an immigration raid earlier this year has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge and will face trial in January. David Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union California. He was arrested June 6 while joining a large crowd of demonstrators outside a business in Los Angeles where federal agents were investigating suspected immigration violations. Federal prosecutors last month dismissed an initial felony charge against him. On Tuesday, he entered a not guilty plea to misdemeanor obstruction of justice.