Thousands Protest Trump's ICE Detention Camps and Iran War Across All 50 States

Nationwide Resistance Grows as Trump Policies Draw Concentration Camp Comparisons

More than 8 million people protested across all 50 states on March 28, making it one of the largest coordinated demonstrations against the Trump administration to date. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, hundreds gathered at Albert Johnson Park for the city's third and largest "No Kings" protest, organized by local group Indivisible Las Cruces.

The protests targeted two urgent crises: Trump's military escalation in Iran and the expanding network of ICE detention centers holding hundreds of thousands of immigrants in what protesters described as inhumane conditions.

"They're just shoving hundreds of thousands of people into, essentially, concentration camps," protester Chas Miller told the NMSU Round Up. "There's one in El Paso. They're everywhere. To me, again, this is what they did in Germany in the '30s. And people said, 'Why would people just sit and let that happen?' Well, now we know that it's not easy to fight these things."

Protesters Warn of Democratic Collapse

Attendees expressed alarm about the administration's disregard for constitutional norms and the rule of law. "Trump just makes up everything as he goes along," said protester Idie Foley. "There's no principles. What are we doing in Iran? It's all insane."

The sense of urgency was palpable. "I just know that right now, we just got to get rid of this administration ASAP," Foley added. "Because if we have to put up with this for another three more years, our country is going to be over."

Organizers distributed whistles to alert community members of ICE presence and handed out informational pamphlets about government policies. Cars drove past honking in solidarity, a feature of all three Las Cruces protests.

Growing Movement Faces Generational Challenge

While turnout has increased with each protest, attendees noted the crowd skewed heavily toward older Americans. "I would say 90% of the people here are [older people], and you know, we're not going to be here much longer, but you guys have to get out and stop this," said protester Leslie White.

Despite the larger crowds, many felt the protests should happen more frequently than the current schedule of one every few months. "I think we should have a protest every day of the week," Foley said. "It's too far apart. I just feel like it's not enough."

White agreed: "What I'm disappointed in is it's only every couple months. It's too long. We need it."

Republicans Cannot Match Grassroots Energy

The protests demonstrate a sustained opposition movement that Republicans have been unable to replicate. "We're demonstrating our resolve to the opposition," White said. "If republicans could have a rally like this, they'd have one every week. But they can't, the people are with us."

Organizers encouraged those unable to attend protests to vote in upcoming midterm and primary elections, framing electoral participation as another form of resistance to the administration's policies.

The March 28 protests, reported by PBS as drawing more than 8 million participants nationwide, represent one of the largest sustained resistance movements in recent American history. As the Trump administration continues its expansion of immigration detention and military interventions abroad, protesters say they will keep showing up until the policies change or the administration ends.