Washington DC has been the center of the debate on immigration enforcement this year, where protesters clashed with police at the Hart Senate Office Building several times in recent months. Demonstrators have turned out repeatedly at the building’s atrium, calling on Congress to defund ICE and abolish the agency entirely.
On August 5, 2026, US Capitol police escorted several women away from the Capitol after a die-in march in the Hart Senate Office Building’s atrium.
According to the videos shared by users on social media platforms, US Capitol police arrested several women who took part in the Women’s March on Monday.
Demonstrators held a die-in and dropped large illustrated placards reading “KILLED BY ICE.” The protestors could also be seen holding large painted portraits of people who had allegedly died at the hands of ICE.
The video shows capitol police surrounding the protestors and arresting them after they had been on the floor for several minutes. The arrested protestors are seen being led away in small groups, while other attendees looked on, some with hands raised, others still holding signs.
On screen it read “HAPPENING NOW,” “FEMINISTS ARE BEING ARRESTED AT THE CAPITOL,” “FOR DEMANDING THAT CONGRESS ABOLISH ICE,” “ICE KILLS” and “BUT WE WON’T BACK DOWN.”
The Hart Senate Office Building has been the scene of several ICE-related protests this year in Washington DC, including the women’s march last month.
In January, dozens of faith leaders were arrested after they spent more than 8 hours on their knees in the Hart building’s atrium in anticipation of a protest. The demonstrators held large banners reading “Do Justice, Love Kindness, Abolish ICE.”
Internet Reacts to Washington DC Capitol Arrests
The video, shared by X user @Suzierizzo1, sparked a wave of reactions, with some commenters framing the arrests as an attack on free speech and others pointing to Capitol Police’s own warnings before the arrests took place.
One commenter wrote, “So the First Amendment no longer exists. I’m so frustrated!” Another argued, “Taking away the right to free speech actually makes people want to speak out more.”
A third commenter tied the arrests to broader political dynamics, writing, “Keep in mind, miller, trump, and others do not want women to rise to any level of authority & power. It is old school thinking in a new era.”
Others pushed back on that framing. One reply noted, “You are intentionally leaving out the part that the police repeatedly told them to leave or they would be arrested. They chose to be arrested. U.S. Capitol and its office buildings maintain strict rules limiting where and how demonstrations can take place.”
A separate commenter warned more broadly, “In an authoritarian state, the truth will be treated as a crime.”
This Washington DC protest comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of ICE after several incidents that have drawn national attention to the agency. These include the fatal shooting of Renée Good, an unarmed Minneapolis woman, by an ICE agent in January.
