Defend DACA protest in Flagstaff

On Sept. 5, President Donald Trump announced that the US would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Implementation, however, has been delayed for up to six months to give Congress time to work on a new immigration policy.

DACA was founded by the Obama administration in June 2012 and protected certain illegal immigrants who entered the country as minors from deportation. Eligible immigrants received a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation with opportunities for a work permit.

As Mr. Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the DACA program, protests erupted across the country, with many showing their support for so-called “dreamers.” At around 6:00pm, citizens, including Mayor Coral Evans, gathered around Flagstaff City Hall to show their support for the DACA program.

Below are a few images from the protest:

Hours after President Trump announced the US would end its DACA program, citizens gather around City Hall in protest.

A Trump supporter and protester clash before police intervene. 

“I can’t understand your language!” shouts a man as he engages with the crowd of protesters chanting in Spanish. 

A couple holds a “resist” sign together, showing their support of DACA.

“Stomp out hate,” says a protester at City Hall. “This is not America.” 

Protesters gather at City Hall to defend the DACA program. 

The crowd remains as rain begins to trickle down. 

“Deport Arpaio. Defend our Dreamers.”

Protesters react to a Trump supporter as he engages the crowd from his vehicle.