In downtown Los Angeles, a significant protest escalated on Sunday, resulting in at least 27 arrests as thousands of demonstrators voiced their opposition to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the deployment of National Guard troops by the Trump administration. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported that at least 10 individuals were taken into custody during clashes between police and protesters, as detailed by LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell during a press briefing on Sunday evening.
Chief McDonnell condemned the violence that erupted during the protests, labeling it as “disgusting.” He noted that various dangerous items, including Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and rocks, were hurled at officers, exacerbating the situation. According to McDonnell, the protests have become “increasingly worse and more violent” since they began.
Heightened tensions and further arrests
In addition to those arrested by LAPD, 17 individuals were apprehended by the California Highway Patrol as they worked to disperse protesters blocking major highways. In a related incident, approximately 60 people were detained in San Francisco after a demonstration outside the Immigration Services building turned violent. This protest, which initially started peacefully, escalated into a standoff with San Francisco police in riot gear, highlighting the growing unrest across California.
The series of protests commenced on Friday, prompted by reports of ICE conducting raids in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. During his presidency, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, authorizing federal agents to arrest up to 3,000 individuals per day. The deployment of roughly 300 National Guard soldiers further inflamed tensions. Protesters responded by blocking a major freeway and igniting self-driving cars, prompting police to use tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbangs to manage the crowds.
Calls for troop withdrawal and political responses
California Governor Gavin Newsom officially requested the withdrawal of National Guard troops in a letter on Sunday, describing their presence as a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass supported this sentiment, claiming that the violence witnessed that day was “provoked” by the Trump administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard, an action typically reserved for extraordinary situations.
In response to these developments, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson rebutted Newsom’s claims, asserting that it was misleading to suggest there was no unrest in Los Angeles prior to the federal involvement. President Trump, maintaining that the deployment of troops was essential, called for additional US Marine units to be sent to the area amid rising tensions. He remarked on his Truth Social platform, “Looking really bad in LA. Bring in the troops,” as about 500 US Marines remained on standby near Twentynine Palms, ready for potential deployment.