LA Curfew Enforced Amid Escalating Protests Over Trump's Immigration Raids

Violence escalates in Los Angeles as protests against President Trump's immigration raids lead to a citywide curfew. The mayor cites public safety concerns as national tensions rise, and arrests continue.

Los Angeles has entered a state of unrest, with police enforcing a curfew following a wave of protests sparked by President Trump’s controversial immigration raids. Mayor Karen Bass announced an overnight curfew affecting a portion of downtown, having noted significant vandalism and looting during demonstrations. The protests began in response to immigration raids that have been ongoing since last Friday, with National Guard troops deployed to support border control agents amidst the turmoil.

Trump defended his decision to send approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, declaring it necessary to prevent the area from being "conquered by a foreign enemy." However, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the president for exacerbating tensions in the region, claiming it as an "assault" on democracy and warning of potential spread to other states.

As the curfew took effect at 8 PM local time on Tuesday, LAPD aggressively managed crowds, employing rubber bullets in their effort to maintain order. The department reported numerous arrests, with nearly 200 individuals detained on Tuesday alone. Mayor Bass justified the curfew as essential to protect public safety and property, stating, "We reached a tipping point."

The unrest was not limited to Los Angeles; protests erupted nationwide, including in Atlanta and New York City, with police facing aggressive crowds. It was reported that 23 businesses were looted within a single night, although financial damages remain undetermined. The mayor highlighted the provocateur role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a catalyst for the unrest, urging the Trump administration to halt the raids if real peace was to be restored.

General Eric Smith of the Marine Corps clarified that deployed military personnel would not have arrest powers but would assist in protecting federal properties. As Trump described the protests as a "full-blown assault on peace and public order," the national political discourse intensified, with the president vowing to exert all available resources to restore order.

In a further escalation, a federal court denied California’s emergency request to block the military troop deployment. District Judge Charles Breyer has scheduled a subsequent hearing for Thursday. President Trump has set aggressive deportation goals for border agents, maintaining a focus on strict immigration policies as a central theme of his re-election campaign.

Polls indicate a divided nation on Trump’s handling of immigration, with approval ratings for his deportation policies remaining significant despite the ongoing uproar. As Los Angeles confronts a complex blend of social and political challenges amid the protests, lingering questions of civil liberties and state versus federal authority continue to emerge.