More than a thousand people took to the streets of Buford Highway on Saturday, voicing outrage over recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that swept through metro Atlanta. The arrests, part of a nationwide crackdown, targeted undocumented migrants, with at least one man reportedly taken into custody at a church in Tucker.

The demonstration, centered in front of Plaza Fiesta, saw protestors waving flags from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala while holding signs condemning the raids. Music blasted from passing cars, and children leaned out of windows, displaying messages of solidarity. The event paralyzed traffic for hours as emotions ran high.

Recent measures have even granted the ICE power to make arrests in spaces that were previously considered off-limits, such as churches and schools.

Many of the protesters called out the ICE raids too personal. Families and individuals worried about their futures, with some young participants expressing fears of losing their parents to deportation. The economic contributions of immigrants, particularly in agriculture and essential industries, were also a key focus among the protesters.