Protests in downtown Tampa call for end to ICE raids across the country

• Protesters in downtown Tampa call for an end to ICE raids happening across the country.
• Tampa protests are in response to demonstrations in Los Angeles.
• Our reporter was there when protesters and counter-protesters had a short, intense exchange in the middle of the road.

Dozens of people have come out to protest against the ICE raids that are happening right here and all across the country. Anti-protestors also came out to share their thoughts.

ICE stands for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But signs at the Monday’s protest in Tampa were saying it stands for “Impotent Criminals and Extortionists.”

"ICE has decided to terrorize our citizens unjustly and wrongly," said one protester who didn't want to share her name.

Protesters are calling to put an end to the ICE raids happening all across the country. People are angry, they are frustrated, and they are scared.

"Every day you leave your house you’re at risk, and quite frankly, even if you don't," said protester Vernon Woodson. "It's just it's far too dangerous for no reason."

Flags from several different countries including Mexico were raised high and proud to send a message that immigrants belong in America – especially those who are coming from a dangerous country.

"I mean people don't run and seek asylum for no reason," said Woodson. "There's actual danger. There are actual governments that will unalive people simply because of their political views back where they originate from. There's gangs there."

Demonstrators are saying they want to fight to stop the deportation of their families and to end the dehumanization of the raids.

"I'm pregnant and I think that it's unfair that my baby has more rights than most people in America now," said protester Joslyn Vaughn.

Organizers of Monday’s protest said this is also a response to the protests that we're seeing in Los Angeles where thousands of National Guards were deployed.

"They are not just taking them away, they are fear mongering them," said the anonymous protester.

For the most part, the gathering remained peaceful. However there were some heated exchanges between counter protesters and protesters.

One counter protester who came out told ABC Action News Annette Gutierrez that me she believes ICE is doing a good thing for this country.

"During the Biden administration, he opened the borders. And a lot of illegals came through the borders, and there was a lot of gangs, violence, and especially Laken Riley, we've all heard about that, and so enough is enough," counter protester Stephanie said.

Laken Riley was a 22-year-old college student from Georgia who was killed last year in February by a Venezuelan national who had illegally entered the country in 2020.

Stephanie said people who came to this country illegally should do it the right way.

"Anybody who wants to come to this country and have the American dream, they should go the right way, and the legal process, because we have rules here," Stephanie said.

Watch full report from Jada Williams in Tampa