Los Angeles is grappling with escalating protests and a city-wide crackdown as President Trump promises to “liberate” the city from what he’s calling an “assault on democracy.”
Over the past five days, protests have raged across downtown LA in response to aggressive immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration. Mayor Karen Bass has declared an overnight curfew in the downtown district, citing vandalism and looting as key reasons for the move.
“We’ve reached a tipping point,” she said, emphasizing the need to stop the destruction.
The curfew took effect at 8:00 p.m. local time Tuesday and covers about one square mile of downtown—a relatively small area in the sprawling city of Los Angeles. Police in riot gear swept through the streets, firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds that refused to leave.
💥 Mass Arrests and National Guard Presence
According to the LAPD, 197 people were arrested on Tuesday alone for failing to disperse.
“Some of the images from these protests give the impression of a city-wide crisis, but that’s not the case,” said Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
Still, the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines underscores the seriousness of the situation. While these troops aren’t authorized to make arrests, they’re tasked with protecting federal property and personnel as the protests continue to roil the city.
The military presence isn’t cheap. The Pentagon has confirmed the deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million.
🔥 A Clash of Power: Trump vs. Newsom
President Trump has portrayed the protests as a direct threat to public safety, calling them a “full-blown assault on peace and public order.” In an address to troops at Fort Bragg, he declared:
“We will use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence.”
He also called the protesters “animals” and encouraged soldiers to boo the names of Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Joe Biden—framing the protests as a broader battle for control.
Governor Newsom fired back in televised remarks, calling the deployment a “brazen abuse of power.”
“California may be first—but it clearly won’t end here,” Newsom warned. “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes.”
📍 Protests Across the Nation
The unrest isn’t limited to Los Angeles. In Atlanta, Georgia, riot police deployed tear gas as protesters lit fireworks near officers. In New York City, thousands of marchers flooded lower Manhattan, blocking traffic and leading to dozens of arrests. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent National Guard troops to San Antonio ahead of immigration protests there.
Back in LA, businesses are feeling the sting. Mayor Bass reported that at least 23 businesses were looted Monday night, though no financial estimate has been released yet. Beyond the downtown core, however, the city seemed to be carrying on as usual, with kids heading to school and tourists wandering Hollywood Boulevard.
🚓 The Role of Immigration Raids
At the heart of the protests are aggressive immigration raids that ICE has carried out in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.
“If these raids are going to continue for 30 days—because that’s what we’re hearing—then if we want peace, the raids need to end,” Bass said.
ICE has confirmed that National Guard troops, who were previously tasked with protecting federal buildings, are now accompanying agents on these daily raids. Marines, meanwhile, have been assigned to guard federal officials and property.
🎯 Public Opinion Divided
A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted before the protests showed 54% of Americans approving of Trump’s deportation policy, while support for his economic and inflation policies hovered in the low 40s. This deep divide underscores how immigration—and how to enforce it—has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics.
Trump has doubled down, setting a target for border agents to make at least 3,000 daily arrests, a move critics say is stoking even more unrest in immigrant communities.
⚖️ Legal Showdown Looms
A federal judge has denied California’s emergency request to block the deployment of troops in LA, though a hearing is scheduled for Thursday. As the legal battles unfold, the city braces for more protests—and more political drama.
What’s clear is that this fight is far from over. From city streets to federal courtrooms, the clash over immigration raids, the militarization of protests, and the very question of how America should handle dissent has erupted in the heart of LA—and it’s rippling across the nation.
