ICE protesters march to College World Series as governor activates National Guard as precaution
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - The governor of Nebraska issued an emergency proclamation activating the state’s National Guard as protestors converged on the first day of the College World Series.
“The proclamation is a precautionary measure in reaction to recent instances of civil unrest across the country,” Gov. Jim Pillen said in a news release.
ICE protesters marched to Charles Schwab Field, where the College World Series was underway. It’s one of the thousands of demonstrations protesting against federal immigration raids happening in cities across the country.
The order also deploys additional law enforcement resources, including state patrol.
“Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska State troopers will be prepared to assist in any civil disturbance, and in particular, to secure the College World Series and its surrounding areas,” Friday’s news release states. “Under normal conditions, National Guard activation can take 12 to 24 hours. This proclamation shortens that time to ensure troop resources are available and standing by, as needed.”
Protests have been happening in Omaha since Tuesday when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Glenn Valley Foods in South Omaha. The CEO said ICE served a warrant, listing 97 employees they wanted to screen.
Later that day, ICE said they had detained 76 people as a result of the operation; the Justice Department said the detainees were using Social Security numbers that were not theirs. None of the 76 people detained in Omaha on Tuesday had a violent criminal history.
On Thursday, the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement said 63 of the detainees were taken to a detention center in Nebraska. The others, they said, “have either been deported or sent to other locations for processing.”
The Lincoln County Sheriff confirmed that ICE had transported the 63 detainees to the Lincoln County Detention Center on Thursday evening.
Also on Thursday, ICE arrested four protesters, saying they had been caught on video “damaging federal property and threatening to assault federal agents and officers.”
Newly sworn-in Mayor John Ewing had issued a statement Friday morning calling on those planning protests to “assemble safely.”
Mayor John Ewing issued a statement Friday morning calling on those planning protests to “assemble safely.”
“Fans should know that Omaha police have plans in place to let peaceful protests occur without obstruction to the game. Protesters should know that in order for their voices to be heard, they must follow the law and demonstrate peacefully,” he said in a statement.
OPD will have “a strong and visible law enforcement presence in and around the stadium,” he said.
Copyright 2025 WOWT via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
