Over the past week, a sea of green, white and red Mexican flags have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids.
The use of Mexican and other Latin American flags during the protests is a form of symbolism many conservatives called anti-American 鈥 while others argue they are an expression of pride in one鈥檚 homeland that could not be more American.
Whether it be United States, Mexican or Palestinian flags, the banners reflect a nation of immigrants whose stories have become intertwined with the story of America, experts say.

A protester leaps off a burning Waymo taxi near the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday in downtown Los Angeles following immigration raid protests.
Kris Hern谩ndez, an associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said the flying of foreign flags in the U.S. has always brought awareness to the plight of marginalized groups. Their appearance in the latest protests might symbolize solidarity with their native land or social movements that support Americans of Mexican descent, she said.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that those flying Mexican flags at immigration protests were left-wing radicals who attacked law enforcement agents 鈥渞emoving violent, criminal illegal aliens from the city.鈥
And even fierce Trump critic former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican, expressed his displeasure with the display of non-American flags at immigration protests that have spread to other states.

Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles on Sunday following immigration raid protests. (AP Photo/)

A protester waves a flag as a Waymo taxi burns Sunday near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles.
鈥淧eaceful protests are fine. Violence is not and will only destroy your message," Kinzinger wrote on X. "American flags or nothing.鈥
Amid the backlash, many Americans who support the right to protest are encouraging demonstrators to protest against immigration policies with the American flag instead of a foreign one, as a way of reclaiming the U.S. flag for all who call the U.S. home.
This underscores just how influential the American flag can be, Hern谩ndez said. 鈥淲hat we are seeing ... is that people don鈥檛 like to see some flags over others,鈥 she said.
Some Latino activists say the Mexican flag is being used by people who were in this land before it was part of the United States. California was part of Mexico until the 1800s. Many Mexican Americans are descendants of people who never crossed a border 鈥 instead the border crossed them.

A protester waves a national flag from El Salvador in front of a line of California National Guard guarding the front of a federal building Monday in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles police in riot gear push back protesters down a street away from a federal building Monday in downtown Los Angeles.
Still, their display of the Mexican flag at protests is being twisted into something it's not, said Juan Proa帽o, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Hector E. Sanchez, president and CEO of 鈥淢i Familia Vota,鈥 a nonprofit focused on mobilizing Latino voters, said Mexicans have been at the forefront of attacks when it comes to immigration 鈥 attacks heightened during both of Trump鈥檚 campaigns.
Sanchez said he wonders why it's not called anti-American when some Americans fly Confederate flags next to the U.S. flag.
鈥淲e see a lot of flags celebrating cultural history and heritage,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hy is it that the Mexican community is constantly under attack?鈥

A protester wears a respirator outide a detention center Sunday in downtown Los Angeles.

A protester kneels waving a National flag from El Salvador in front of a line of law enforcement officers near a federal building Monday in downtown Los Angeles.
Photos: Protesters clash with law enforcement in Los Angeles

California National Guard guard the Federal Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Diego Coloma rests on a railing as he looks on at law enforcement officers during a protest on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A man raises his fist as California National Guardsmen look on during a protest on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Demonstrators march during a protest Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Protesters gather to denounce ICE, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, operations Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo Damian Dovarganes)

California Highway Patrol officers clash with protesters on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

California Highway Patrol push protesters back along a street during a protest on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester yells at police and federal agents in an action to denounce the ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, operations in the area Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester is arrested by California Highway Patrol near the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Protesters are detained by law enforcement near the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester is arrested by California Highway Patrol near the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester offers a flower to Los Angeles police officers in riot gear while they attempt to clear a street in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo Jae Hong)

A person carrying multiple flags walks past a burning car during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Protesters jump over a fence to avoid being kettled by police during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

An injured protester is tended to by another during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Protesters gather outside the federal building to denounce the ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, operations in the area Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Tear gas fills the street as protesters confront Border Patrol personnel during a demonstration over the dozens detained in an operation by federal immigration authorities a day earlier, in Paramount, Calif., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A car burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A person carries an injured protester to cover during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Authorities stand in tear gas while trying to clear protesters at the metropolitan detention center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

A protester is detained by police in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester is detained in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A police officer's face is covered in pepper spray outside the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

Maribel Parra screams as protesters confront a line of police near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

Protesters are seen on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A protester throws a smoke canister on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A protester holds a sign as a Waymo taxi burns near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A police officer fires a soft round near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Protesters take cover behind chairs near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Officers make their way down a ramp to the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matt Hobbs uses milk after being teargassed near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Two California Highway Patrol officers try to dodge rocks being thrown near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A protester throws a scooter at a police vehical near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY A flash bomb explodes on the 101 Freeway near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

People take cover as a fire work explodes during a protest near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A woman waves the Mexican flag as flames erupt from a burning dumpster during a protest in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A California Highway Patrol officer pulls an electric scooter off a vehicle on a highway as protesters throw objects at the police vehicles near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)