DUBOIS: Despite frigid temperatures, dozens of residents gathered Saturday afternoon along Liberty Boulevard to peacefully protest what they described as aggressive enforcement practices by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The demonstration was organized by Indivisible: Mayday, a local advocacy group whose members and supporters lined one of DuBois’ busiest corridors holding signs, waving flags, and engaging with passing motorists. Organizers said the highly visible location was chosen to maximize public awareness and draw attention to concerns they believe extend beyond immigration policy itself and into the broader effects on families and communities.

Participants voiced opposition to federal immigration enforcement practices and raised concerns about conditions at the Moshannon Valley Detention Center in Clearfield County. Several demonstrators said the facility, along with others across Pennsylvania, highlights what they view as insufficient oversight and transparency in the detention and enforcement process.

Organizers and speakers also referenced recent incidents elsewhere in the country that have intensified national scrutiny of immigration enforcement. Among those cited were the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis earlier this month. Protesters described those incidents as troubling and said they underscore broader concerns about how enforcement actions are carried out.

Those in attendance emphasized that the gathering was not only about immigration policy, but also about exercising rights protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Participants pointed to the freedoms of speech, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the government as essential tools that allow citizens to publicly express dissent, raise awareness, and call on elected officials to examine policies they believe warrant greater accountability.

Advocates at the protest urged Pennsylvania officials, including members of the Shapiro administration and state legislators, to reconsider the state’s level of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. They argued that scaling back collaboration with ICE facilities could improve oversight, reduce the risk of unresolved deaths, and better protect immigrant rights during due process.

Saturday’s demonstration in DuBois mirrors similar protests that have taken place across the country in recent weeks, reflecting renewed national debate over immigration enforcement and the scope of federal authority. Organizers noted that such gatherings have occurred not only in large cities, but also in smaller communities, suggesting the issue resonates beyond traditional political centers.

While acknowledging that opinions on immigration enforcement remain sharply divided, organizers said the goal of the DuBois protest was to raise awareness and encourage conversation rather than confrontation. As traffic passed and occasional horns sounded in support, demonstrators remained along Liberty Boulevard through the cold, underscoring what they described as the importance of civic engagement even when immediate policy change is uncertain.