EL CAJON, Calif. — About two dozen protesters gathered Monday night outside the Courtyard by Marriott on Magnolia Avenue after organizers said they had multiple independent tips from trusted sources indicating federal immigration agents were staying at the downtown hotel.
Participants arrived for a planned 7–9 p.m. demonstration, chanting through bullhorns, banging pots and pans, and circling the block as passing drivers honked in support. An organizer showed this reporter materials indicating more than one source for the claim, reinforcing why the protest moved forward.
Police presence remained light. Near 9 p.m., one El Cajon police unit briefly checked with hotel staff and told demonstrators there were no ICE officers inside. The event concluded around 9 p.m. as scheduled—not due to the police contact. No arrests or property damage were reported.
