Hundreds Protest ICE Detention in Houston After Minnesota Deaths

Demonstrators call for end to ICE operations in Houston following recent deaths of U.S. citizen protesters in Minnesota.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Houston Processing Center operated by private prison company CoreCivic to demand an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Houston. The protest came after the recent deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, during an ICE protest in Minnesota earlier in January. Protesters, including a retired immigration attorney and a state senator, condemned the lack of due process and dignity in ICE's actions and called for sustained organizing to challenge the agency's policies.

Why it matters

The Houston protest is part of a growing national movement against ICE's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, which have led to high-profile incidents of violence and deaths of U.S. citizens. The protest highlights ongoing concerns about ICE's treatment of detainees, lack of due process, and the broader impacts of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.

The details

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Houston Processing Center, a detention facility operated by private prison company CoreCivic, to call for an end to ICE operations in the city. The protest followed a similar rally earlier in the week outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, where protesters demanded the release of a 5-year-old boy from Minnesota who was detained with his father. Houston police deployed a heavy presence, including mounted patrol officers, to monitor the peaceful protest.

  • The protest took place on Friday, January 31, 2026.
  • Earlier in January 2026, two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were killed during an ICE protest in Minnesota.

The players

Pam Nieto

A 66-year-old retired immigration attorney who joined the protest, saying she was disturbed by the 'depravity' of ICE's actions and lack of due process.

State Sen. Molly Cook

A Democratic state senator from Houston who gave a fiery speech urging the crowd to keep organizing and sustain the momentum against ICE.

Joe Mendoza

A 37-year-old protester who believes the 'narrative is falling apart' around ICE's actions and that more people speaking up will encourage further participation.

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was killed during an ICE protest in Minnesota earlier in January 2026.

Renee Good

A 37-year-old mother of three who was also killed during the ICE protest in Minnesota earlier in January 2026.

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What they’re saying

“It's all very disturbing. It's the depravity of it. Obviously, no one is against going after what they really said — the 'worst of the worst.' But even those people deserve due process.”

— Pam Nieto, Retired immigration attorney (Houston Chronicle)

“Leave with somebody's number that you didn't know before you came. Sign up to be with an organization because we are in this for the long haul.”

— State Sen. Molly Cook, Democratic state senator from Houston (Houston Chronicle)

“The more people that show up here and more people that get seen here, it'll encourage more people to speak up and be present and lend their voices.”

— Joe Mendoza (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge overseeing the case of the two U.S. citizens killed during the Minnesota ICE protest is expected to rule on whether to allow the release of the protesters on bail.

The takeaway

The Houston protest is part of a growing national movement against ICE's aggressive tactics, which have led to high-profile incidents of violence and deaths. The sustained organizing and participation of concerned citizens will be crucial to challenging ICE's policies and practices going forward.