No arrests after clash between protesters and police escalated in Tukwila Saturday

No arrests were made after a demonstration in front of the Department of Homeland Security field office escalated into a clash between police and protesters, the Tukwila Police Department (TPD) confirmed.

Tacoma Police had to deploy pepper balls and pepper spray to remove protesters blocking access to the Department of Homeland Security office Saturday. Approximately 200 protesters rallied and created several blockades, deterring traffic throughout parts of the city. Graffiti was spray-painted on the building while white paint was thrown about.

#BREAKING: Homeland Security just deployed some kind of green smoke around the DHS office to disperse the violent crowd in Tukwila, WA. Antifa militants are starting to retreat.@choeshow|@tpusa pic.twitter.com/KzPm9VBAP1

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) June 14, 2025

The police were called after DHS employees from inside the building reported that they were trapped inside, according to KOMO News.

“Officers gave numerous loud and clear verbal commands via PA for those blocking the south entrance/exit of the facility to move away from the drive or be subject to arrest,” TPD said in a prepared statement on social media. “Many in the crowd complied with those commands and moved out of the drive to the sidewalk, where they continued to exercise their First Amendment right to peacefully protest. We thank those who complied with our verbal commands and exited the drive.”

But some protesters came prepared to deal with police, equipped with makeshift shields to protect themselves and frozen water bottles and rocks to throw at officers.

The clash was in response to the day before, when approximately 100 immigrants were ordered to report to court on their compliance with their provisional release from custody by ICE. The check-in was reportedly a part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). The people who were summoned were not undocumented immigrants, having legal status to be in the U.S.

Around 200 immigrants checked in with federal immigration authorities. Two were detained by officials, according to KUOW.

The protesters came to the Department of Homeland Security building on Saturday to prevent people from entering.

“We would like to reiterate that our officers do not participate in immigration enforcement or otherwise assist in questioning or detaining individuals based on their immigration status or nationality in accordance with our policy and Washington State law,” TPD stated.

TPD revealed no injuries were reported in addition to no arrests, but the department was contacted by a woman stating that she had been assaulted during the demonstration.

Brandi Kruse details attack at Tukwila protest

It’s unconfirmed if the woman who reported she was attacked was independent journalist Brandi Kruse, who revealed on “The John Curley Show” that, while covering the protest in Tukwila Saturday, she was immediately surrounded and eventually attacked.

“At first, they were just dumping water on me, which is assault, but it could be worse. Or, I guess, what I really hope was water,” Kruse shared. “We tried to de-escalate, just walk away. That’s when they started hurling stuff at me from behind.”

Kruse was then sprayed in the face with hornet and wasp killer.

“It was really painful,” she added. “All this is happening, and we continue, with my security, just to try to walk away, and they’re not interested in letting us do that. It was very clear. They were interested in assaulting me. They were interested in shutting me up and stopping my ability to document their criminal conduct.”

Kruse mentioned a man, who appeared to be undercover, came over and said he had video of what happened. However, Kruse said, as soon as the Antifa group realized he wasn’t one of them, they began assaulting him.

“Six or seven Antifa, all black-clad, jumped on him. He’s on the ground, in a fetal position. They’re kicking him. They’re stomping him. Just insane stuff, “she said. “That’s when I told my security, I said, ‘Help him.’ And he jumped in. And that’s when he was threatened. A guy threatened to pull a gun on him.”

Due to the seriousness of the attacks, Kruse and her team filed reports with the Tukwila Police Department.

“These people hide their faces, but we filed a report with the hopes that maybe we can get some better video, we can get some surveillance video, or something that will give us some identifying information on these individuals, specifically a man who threatened us with a gun and then the individual who unleashed the spray into our eyes,” she shared.

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