Tensions exploded in downtown Los Angeles as police made “mass arrests” on the fifth consecutive day of protests sparked by President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration raids. The unrest prompted Mayor Karen Bass to impose an overnight curfew in a one-square-mile area of the city’s downtown, citing looting and vandalism.
Nearly 200 people were arrested on Tuesday alone, adding to dozens detained since Friday when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched aggressive enforcement operations in Latino neighbourhoods.
Protesters clashed with riot police as authorities fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds defying the 8:00 p.m. curfew. “We reached a tipping point,” Mayor Bass said, pointing to the damage sustained by at least 23 businesses during Monday night’s chaos. She directly blamed ICE’s actions for fueling the unrest, calling on the federal government to halt the raids, which are rumoured to continue for 30 days.
President Trump has doubled down, ordering the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in what he calls a mission to prevent the city from being “conquered by a foreign enemy.” Speaking at Fort Bragg, Trump described the protests as a “full-blown assault on peace and public order,” vowing to use “every asset at our disposal to quell the violence.”
However, California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the president’s unilateral deployment of military personnel without state consent as a “brazen abuse of power” and a direct attack on democracy. “California may be first – but it clearly won’t end here,” he warned.
National Guard troops, now accompanying ICE agents on daily raids, do not have arrest authority. Marines are stationed to protect federal property and personnel. The Pentagon estimates the cost of the military operation in LA at $134 million.
Across the country, similar scenes unfolded:
- In Atlanta, riot police used tear gas after protesters launched fireworks at officers.
- In New York, dozens were arrested in lower Manhattan after demonstrators blocked traffic.
- In San Antonio, Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard ahead of planned immigration rallies.
Despite the chaos, most parts of Los Angeles remained calm on Tuesday. Schools operated normally, commuters filled roads, and tourists continued to stroll through Hollywood Boulevard. But the divide between federal policy and local governance deepened.
A federal court on Tuesday denied California’s emergency request to block Trump’s troop deployment. A full hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Trump’s immigration crackdown, a core part of his re-election campaign, aims to hit 3,000 arrests per day. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted before the protests showed that 54% of Americans supported the policy. However, approval ratings for his economic and inflation strategies trailed significantly.
As protests continue and arrests mount, the growing standoff between federal forces and state leaders appears far from over.
BBC
