Los Angeles [US], June 11 (ANI): Tensions escalated dramatically in Los Angeles this week as protests broke out in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that led to the arrest of dozens of undocumented immigrants. Demonstrations that began near a downtown federal detention facility descended into chaos as federal and local authorities responded with force, deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and military personnel to disperse the crowds.
The initial wave of protests started Friday night and intensified over the weekend. By Sunday afternoon, the assemblies devolved into standoffs with law enforcement. Riot-gear-clad officers from the LAPD and federal agencies, backed by the California National Guard, attempted to push back demonstrators using tactics honed since the George Floyd protests in 2020. Protesters chanted, “This is what democracy looks like!” as officers cleared paths for armored vehicles, occasionally responding to thrown water bottles and other projectiles with tear gas and less-lethal munitions.
CNN reported a particularly tense moment when a motorcyclist plowed into a line of officers, injuring at least two. Protesters also hurled commercial-grade fireworks, and in one dramatic video, a mounted police horse trampled a protester startled by the explosions. Contradictory police responses were seen in the footage, as one officer ordered the injured protester to stand while another tackled him.
Downtown Los Angeles saw widespread vandalism, with damage to public and private property, including several self-driving Waymo vehicles. Protesters later spilled onto the 101 Freeway, halting traffic. From an overpass, some hurled rocks and scooters at California Highway Patrol vehicles, with one demonstrator reportedly dropping a lit object onto a police cruiser. Officers initially held back, attempting to deescalate the freeway confrontation before eventually dispersing the crowd using an “L-formation” tactic. By 9 p.m., LAPD had declared downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly and continued efforts into the night to restore order. Officials later confirmed dozens of arrests during the unrest.
The federal response has proven even more contentious. President Donald Trump, speaking at Fort Bragg in North Carolina to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Army, condemned the protests as “a full-blown assault on peace, on public order, and national sovereignty.” He announced plans to work with senators to impose a one-year prison sentence on anyone who burns the American flag.
Trump directly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of hiring “troublemakers, agitators, and insurrectionists” to sustain the protests. “Their position is that the rioting will not stop unless ICE withdraws from Los Angeles and ceases the enforcement of federal immigration law,” Trump said. “So sad what they’ve done to our country.”
In response to escalating tensions, Trump ordered the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, supplementing the 2,000 already deployed on Saturday. Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs, confirmed the action on X (formerly Twitter), stating the deployment was intended “to support ICE & to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties.” The move triggered immediate backlash from state officials, with California filing a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the federal deployments.
Amid the rising tensions, over 700 US Marines were also mobilized from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California to assist with protecting federal personnel and infrastructure. Though not tasked with immigration enforcement, their presence on standby outside the city has further inflamed tensions.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, defended the military involvement in an interview with CNN, stressing that the protesters’ violent actions necessitated a stronger response. “It all depends on the activities of these protesters — they make the decisions,” he said. Homan confirmed that ICE operations would continue not only in Los Angeles but across the country, despite public outcry. “They’re going to continue in every city,” he said.
As the city braces for continued demonstrations and a potentially prolonged federal presence, the clash between state and federal authorities underscores deep divisions over immigration policy and protest management. With tensions still high, the national spotlight remains fixed on Los Angeles — a city now at the center of a growing constitutional and humanitarian storm.
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