Los Angeles police made mass arrests late Tuesday as they enforced an overnight curfew following a fifth day of protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The demonstrations, which began on Friday, have been largely peaceful, but looting and vandalism have marred the events, leading to heightened tensions in the nation’s second-largest city.
Police arrested 25 people for violating the curfew as of Tuesday evening, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson cited by the Los Angeles Times. The number of arrests was expected to rise as officers worked to disperse the remaining protesters downtown.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass instituted the curfew “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.” The curfew, covering one square mile of the city’s more-than-500 square mile area, was in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., restricting movement except for residents, journalists, and emergency services.
Despite the curfew, small groups continued to gather, and clashes with police ensued. Protests have also emerged in cities across the country, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Austin, all rallying against increased immigration arrests by federal authorities.
In response to the unrest, President Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, a move that faced opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and local law enforcement, who asserted they could manage the situation. A military spokesperson indicated that the Marines were expected to be on the streets by Wednesday to guard federal facilities and support immigration enforcement operations. The Pentagon reported that the deployment would cost taxpayers $134 million.
Governor Newsom criticized the federal intervention, stating that Trump’s actions reflected “the behavior of a tyrant, not a president.” He filed for an injunction with the U.S. District Court in Northern California to prevent the use of troops for policing, citing legal concerns over the military’s role in domestic law enforcement without a declaration of insurrection.
Legal experts have also expressed concerns. Frank Bowman, a law professor, noted that U.S. law generally prohibits the use of the military as a policing force. “The president is trying to use emergency declarations to justify bringing in first the National Guard and then mobilizing Marines,” he said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state would deploy its National Guard “to locations across the state to ensure peace and order” following solidarity protests. “Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal and will lead to arrest,” Abbott wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Sun Taiyi, an associate professor of political science at Christopher Newport University, commented on the legal basis for Trump’s actions. He noted that the protest sites were not federal government facilities that would warrant military involvement but rather private businesses and public spaces.
As tensions continue, many are calling for a peaceful resolution and dialogue to address the underlying issues driving the protests.
