Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that disruptive protests involving foreign flags are anti-American and called for the immediate deportation of foreigners involved. The statement was made on X.
“Blocking streets is an act of violence,” said Cortes. “Protesting with foreign flags is an act of complete anti-American defiance. Any foreigner acting disruptive, waving foreign flags, should be deported immediately. It’s our homeland.”
In the past year, several major U.S. cities have experienced street-blocking protests featuring foreign flags, sparking controversy about the use of public space and protest tactics. According to The New York Times, New York City has seen repeated demonstrations involving thousands of marchers waving Palestinian flags and blocking bridges and major streets. These events have led to significant police responses and public debate about free speech and civic disruption.
The Associated Press reports that Manhattan has seen a marked rise in protest activity in 2024, with several demonstrations drawing crowds exceeding 5,000 and resulting in over 300 arrests as police responded to incidents where protesters blocked key thoroughfares or landmarks. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has deployed additional officers and implemented new crowd control measures in response to these large-scale actions, reflecting ongoing tensions between activists and city officials.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, U.S. deportation rates remain steady, but protest-related arrests rarely lead to removal unless linked to severe criminal charges. About 142,000 people were deported from the U.S. in fiscal year 2023; however, most protest-related offenses—such as blocking streets—result in misdemeanors or citations that do not meet federal deportation criteria unless combined with more serious crimes.
Cortes is also President of League of American Workers and senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He is a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, as well as a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
