Los Angeles is grappling with intense protests after a series of aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency and imposed a curfew on downtown LA to quell the unrest.
“I have declared a local emergency and issued a curfew for downtown Los Angeles to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting,” Mayor Bass announced. The curfew takes effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday, covering a one-square-mile area where demonstrations have escalated.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported over 300 arrests in the past two days as clashes between protesters and law enforcement intensified. “If you do not live or work in downtown LA, avoid the area,” Bass warned. “Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew and you will be prosecuted.”
The situation escalated when President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles following four days of protests. The demonstrations were sparked by ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants across the city.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the president’s actions, accusing him of overstepping his authority by deploying federal troops without the state’s consent. “Trump is stoking tensions in LA,” Newsom stated in a live-streamed address. He emphasized the broader implications, saying, “If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe.”
Newsom urged Americans to stand up peacefully. “We must be held to account, but we must do so peacefully,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, thousands marched in New York City protesting the administration’s immigration policies. Demonstrators filled the streets of Lower Manhattan, many holding signs reading “ICE, out of New York.”
“I’m here to stand up for those who don’t have a voice, especially for my mom,” one protester shared. “This country wouldn’t be what it is without immigrants.”
Jacqueline, a 23-year-old American with Mexican heritage, voiced her concerns: “I’m here to defend my family. I fear for them now, and I don’t want to live in a society where I’m in fear for my family’s health.”
