I actually don't think the optics of the anti deportation protests are horrible

Mostly because I think we are living in a post optics era. Bringing American flags wouldn't make a big difference. We're trying to align liberal values with American values BUT THOSE VALUES ARE GONE. Normies only care about patriotism, democracy, truth, Christianity, and other classic modernist ideals because Republicans told everyone to care about them but now they have abandoned those ideals, they have no power anymore.

I think the only thing people respond to at this is loudness. Trump is effective at doing what he wants because he is loud. I think that's why Palestinian protests have been so effective with no clear messaging. They were big, they happened frequently and they were hysterical. Right now immigrants are being dehumanized in the minds of Americans and the Republicans are enforcing the perception that all immigrants are criminals or non English speaking parasites. So I think these anti deportation protests are effective because they are humanizing the population that is at threat. Normies can see this and see that they are a proud, passionate people with heritage and give second thought to whether deporting these people is right.