Federal Troops Deploy to Los Angeles Amid Fourth Day of Immigration Enforcement Protests
Violence Erupts as Trump Administration Mobilizes Marines and National Guard Following ICE Raids
Police declared all of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area and ordered protesters to disperse on Sunday night after three consecutive days of escalating demonstrations against President Donald Trump's immigration policies turned violent. The unrest, which began Friday following federal immigration raids that resulted in over 100 arrests, has prompted the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the nation's second-largest city.
The confrontations reached a critical point Sunday evening when protesters set fire to multiple Waymo self-driving vehicles, blocked major freeways, and clashed with law enforcement officers who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell condemned the violence as "disgusting" and declared that peaceful protests had spiraled "out of control".
Timeline of Escalating Tensions
Friday: ICE Raids Spark Initial Protests
The crisis began Friday morning when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted coordinated raids across Los Angeles, targeting locations including the Fashion District, a Home Depot store, and clothing wholesalers. Federal agents arrested at least 44 individuals for immigration violations, though the Department of Homeland Security later reported the total reached 118 people.
"Forty-four people were taken into custody on immigration charges," stated a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations. The operations involved unmarked military-style vehicles and federal agents from ICE, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Protests erupted immediately following the arrests, with demonstrators gathering outside the Metropolitan Detention Center where detainees were believed to be held. The Los Angeles Police Department, while not involved in the immigration operations, was called to manage civil disturbances after protesters spray-painted anti-ICE messages on federal buildings.
Saturday: Violence Escalates Across Multiple Locations
Saturday witnessed expanded protests in Paramount and downtown Los Angeles, with several hundred demonstrators confronting law enforcement. Federal authorities deployed gas canisters to disperse crowds in both locations, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department made three arrests and acknowledged using "less lethal force".
The day proved particularly significant as David Huerta, California president of the Service Employees International Union, was arrested and charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer after allegedly blocking a vehicle during the raids. Huerta was injured during his arrest and hospitalized before being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Sunday: Federal Military Response and Peak Violence
President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops on Saturday night, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom's authority by invoking a specific clause of the U.S. Code of Armed Services. The first contingent of soldiers arrived Sunday morning and were stationed outside federal facilities.
"These Radical Left protests, instigated by often-paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED," Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.
The situation deteriorated dramatically Sunday evening when protesters engaged in widespread vandalism and arson. Multiple Waymo self-driving vehicles were vandalized, spray-painted with anti-ICE graffiti, and set ablaze. Television footage showed at least five robotaxis engulfed in flames, while protesters were observed throwing e-scooters into the burning vehicles.
"Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and individuals nearby," the LAPD warned.
Political Confrontation Between State and Federal Authorities
The military deployment has created a significant constitutional crisis between the Trump administration and California's Democratic leadership. Governor Newsom immediately condemned the action as "illegal" and "immoral," announcing plans to file a lawsuit against the federal government.
"Trump has created the conditions you see on TV tonight... he's stoking this fire," Newsom stated during an MSNBC interview Sunday evening. "It's an unconstitutional overreach, and we will challenge that with a lawsuit tomorrow".
The confrontation intensified when Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, suggested that both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could face arrest if they obstruct federal operations. Newsom responded defiantly, stating, "Tom, arrest me. Let's go".
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the federal response while also condemning violent protesters. "I don't want people to succumb to the chaos that I believe is being unnecessarily instigated by the administration," Bass stated at a press conference.
Law Enforcement Response and Casualties
The Los Angeles Police Department reported making 39 arrests over the weekend, with charges ranging from failure to disperse to assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, looting, and arson. Five LAPD officers sustained injuries during the weekend events, with three treated at the scene and two suffering minor injuries.
Police Chief McDonnell emphasized that while peaceful protest remains a constitutional right, the violence observed crossed acceptable boundaries. "Considering the violence tonight, I believe we need to reassess the need for National Guard assistance, McDonnell stated during a Sunday evening press conference.
The department utilized various crowd control measures, including mounted officers, tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang grenades, to manage the demonstrations. On Sunday night, authorities expanded the unlawful assembly designation to encompass all of downtown Los Angeles.
Economic and Social Impact
The unrest has significantly impacted Los Angeles's economic and social infrastructure. Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, suspended its services in the protest zone indefinitely following the destruction of five vehicles. The company confirmed it would halt operations until the area is deemed secure.
Several downtown businesses experienced looting and vandalism during the night and early morning hours, according to KTLA television reports. The Los Angeles Public Library announced the closure of its downtown, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo branches, stating, "We are closing to prioritize the safety of our patrons and staff".
City maintenance crews began cleanup operations Monday, removing anti-ICE graffiti from City Hall and other government buildings. Charred remains of the destroyed Waymo vehicles remained visible on downtown streets.
Federal Immigration Strategy and Broader Implications
The Los Angeles protests represent a critical test of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy. The president has committed to conducting "the largest deportation in American history" and has instructed ICE to arrest at least 3,000 migrants daily.
Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff and immigration policy architect, characterized the Los Angeles demonstrations as an "insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States". This inflammatory rhetoric has been echoed by other administration officials who view the protests as direct challenges to federal authority.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon was prepared to deploy active-duty troops "if violence continues" in Los Angeles, noting that Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton were "on high alert".
Community Response and Civil Rights Concerns
Immigration advocacy organizations have strongly criticized both the enforcement operations and the federal government's response to protests. Vanessa Cardenas, leader of America's Voice, accused the Trump administration of "fabricating a pretext to misuse power and intentionally inciting confrontations regarding immigration".
Robert Cohen, a history and social studies professor at New York University, suggested the events resulted from the Trump administration becoming "entangled in its own web of lies" about immigration. He noted the disconnect between "Trumpist hysteria about an imaginary immigrant wave" and actual immigration statistics.
The protests have highlighted the deep divide between Los Angeles's diverse, heavily Hispanic population and the Trump administration's immigration policies. Census data indicates Los Angeles has a significant Hispanic and foreign-born population, making it a natural flashpoint for immigration enforcement conflicts.
Misinformation and Social Media Impact
Part of the unrest appears to have been fueled by misinformation circulating on social media. In Paramount, a predominantly Hispanic suburb where over 82% of residents are Hispanic, protests erupted based on false reports of raids at a local Home Depot.
The Department of Homeland Security clarified that "despite inaccurate reports, there was no ICE 'raid' at a Home Depot in LA." Still, the damage was already done as protesters had clashed with law enforcement based on the false information.
International Media Coverage and Press Freedom Concerns
The protests have drawn international attention, with foreign journalists covering the events experiencing violence. An Australian journalist was captured on video being struck by what appeared to be a rubber bullet from law enforcement. At the same time, a British photographer required emergency surgery after being shot in the leg by a non-lethal projectile.
These incidents have raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists covering civil unrest in the United States. The BBC has contacted the LAPD for comment regarding the injuries to international media personnel.
Current Status and Future Outlook
As of Monday, June 9, protests entered their fourth day with continued demonstrations at the Roybal Federal Building and other downtown locations. City workers began extensive cleanup operations, removing graffiti and debris from the areas affected by the weekend violence.
The deployment of 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms to supplement the National Guard presence indicates the federal government's commitment to maintaining control through military force. This unprecedented peacetime deployment of military forces in a major American city represents a significant escalation in domestic law enforcement tactics.
The legal challenges promised by Governor Newsom are expected to create a constitutional crisis over the limits of federal power and states' rights. The outcome of these legal battles could set important precedents for future conflicts between state and federal authorities over immigration policy.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Immigration Policy
The Los Angeles protests have become a symbol of broader resistance to the Trump administration's immigration agenda. With ICE operations continuing nationwide and the administration's stated goal of massive deportations, similar confrontations are likely in other sanctuary cities across the country.
Other municipalities and state governments will closely watch the effectiveness of military deployment in quelling civil unrest. The precedent set in Los Angeles could influence how future immigration enforcement operations are conducted and how local governments respond to federal pressure.
The long-term impact on Los Angeles's immigrant communities remains to be seen. Still, the fear and uncertainty generated by these events are likely to have lasting effects on community cooperation with law enforcement and civic engagement.
As cleanup continues and legal challenges proceed, the Los Angeles protests of June 2025 may be remembered as a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy, federal authority, and the limits of civil disobedience in American democracy.