Ogden mobilizes against local ICE policy ahead of No Kings protests on Saturday

NEWS

Protestors hold signs at Ogden Union Station during a No Kings protest in Ogden on June 14, 2025. Deann Armes

No Kings protests are planned for Saturday, March 28, in all 50 states, including 14 in Utah. The No Kings movement, started in 2025 to defend democracy against tyranny, drew millions to the streets at its first two nationwide demonstrations in June and October last year. With at least 3,000 events scheduled, organizers expect this to be the largest protest in the nation’s history.

In Ogden, Ogden50501 invited a number of community organizations to attend the Saturday rally, organized by League of Women Voters and Indivisible Ogden.

Ogden 50501 said that an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people joined the first two No Kings events in Ogden in June and October last year.

Ogden resident and Weber State student Sarah Bowler will be there to collect signatures for a petition she started last week to terminate Weber County’s 287(g) agreement with ICE. 

“Public safety depends on cooperation — and cooperation depends on trust. When people are afraid to interact with law enforcement, everyone is less safe,” she said.

Lately, Ogden activists have been finding ways to limit ICE in Ogden including raising a permit issue at the city council meeting on Tuesday, March 24, reported Macy Lipkin for KUER.

Bowler plans to present the collected signatures to Ryan Arbon the Weber County sheriff, in hopes of influencing him to terminate the 287(g) agreement he signed with ICE in July 2025. 

While section 287(g) was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1996, allowing ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement, the current administration is rapidly expanding it. As of March 23, ICE has signed 1,552 287(g) agreements 39 states, according to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement website. It’s a massive increase — ICE had 135 total active agreements in January 2025.

Utah currently has 16 signed agreements. 

The Weber County sheriff’s department’s agreement includes the Task Force Model, reactivated by Trump’s executive order in January 2025, allowing deputies to question individuals about immigration status during routine law enforcement activities. It also includes the Jail Enforcement Model, allowing deputies to identify and process individuals for immigration enforcement while in custody.

Sheriff Arbon stated the agreement was intended to enhance public safety by assisting in the identification and removal of individuals accused of crimes, according to Bowler’s petition, 

Another person affiliated with the petition project, who wishes to remain anonymous, said:

“I am a daughter of immigrants and as a child, I grew up fearing my parents could be taken by ICE. They are honest, hardworking people who followed the legal path to citizenship and they are the reason why I am so passionate about immigration reform. I think those who commit serious crimes should be held accountable, but most detained immigrants have no criminal record. This country has portrayed immigrants in a negative light and that needs to change. At the end of the day, immigrants are human beings who are deserving of safety, stability and the chance to live without fear.”

She has an aunt who is currently detained by ICE in another state. It happened during a routine traffic stop, and she had no criminal record.

The No Kings protest in Ogden will be held at noon at the Ogden Municipal Building on Washington Blvd., on Saturday, March 28.