Protests in Los Angeles intensified for a second day as demonstrators clashed with security forces over ongoing immigration raids in the city. The confrontations erupted in the Paramount area of southeast Los Angeles, where reports indicated that immigration detentions were occurring outside a home improvement store.
On Saturday, a substantial contingent of green-uniformed security personnel clad in riot gear and gas masks faced off against the protesters. The streets were littered with overturned shopping carts as tear gas was deployed to disperse the crowds gathered on median strips and sidewalks.
“ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are,” shouted a female protester through a megaphone, expressing a powerful sentiment among the demonstrators. One sign prominently displayed read, “No Human Being is Illegal.”
Tensions escalated as some protesters reacted by throwing rocks, bottles, and fireworks at law enforcement officials, culminating in an incident where a car was set ablaze. The atmosphere was charged with anger and defiance against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in the neighborhood.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to social media to address the unrest, issuing a warning to what she called the “LA rioters.” “You will not stop us or slow us down,” Noem declared, emphasizing that ICE’s enforcement of immigration laws would continue unabated.
President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, revealed on Fox News that the National Guard would be deployed in Los Angeles on Saturday evening in response to the growing unrest.
The protests were ignited on Friday night when ICE agents conducted enforcement operations, arresting at least 44 individuals on allegations of immigration violations. This prompted demonstrators to block entrances and exits to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown L.A., where the detainees were being processed, chanting calls for their release.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that “1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers,” detailing actions such as slashing tires and vandalizing public property. This characterization of the demonstrators contributed to the sharply polarized narrative surrounding the events, with immigration hardliner Stephen Miller referring to the protests as an “insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States.”
The crackdown on immigration enforcement reflects President Trump’s commitment to deport a record number of undocumented individuals. The White House has set ambitious targets for ICE, aiming for daily arrests of at least 3,000 immigrants. However, the enforcement has drawn criticism as even individuals with legal status, including permanent residents, have found themselves caught in these sweeps.
Reporting from Compton in Los Angeles, Al Jazeera’s Robert Reynolds depicted the chaotic scene as riot police utilized tear gas and flashbang grenades to clear protesters from the area outside a Home Depot. Reynolds described how the demonstrations began in response to ICE agents raiding a location where many undocumented day laborers congregate, leading to several arrests that fueled further outrage from the local community.
“People are expressing a profound sense of outrage that this is happening in their neighborhood,” Reynolds noted, highlighting the emotional stakes involved in these confrontations.
In response to the raids, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicly condemned the actions of ICE, stating, “I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. We will not stand for this.”
In contrast, ICE acting director Todd Lyons criticized Bass’s statement, stating that it reflected a preference for chaos and lawlessness over public safety and law enforcement. “Make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens,” Lyons asserted in response to the backlash.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the raids, labeling immigration authorities as “masked goons.” The organization urged elected officials to take action to halt what they referred to as a “paramilitary operation” and to ensure the safety and integrity of all residents in Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status.
Marc Christopher, an immigration lawyer, indicated that the current enforcement policy signals a marked shift in ICE’s approach. “Previously, immigration enforcement focused more on individuals with criminal records. Now it seems more indiscriminate,” Christopher explained, pointing to the growing sense of fear among community members.
As the situation in Los Angeles unfolds, tensions remain high as both community members and officials grapple with the implications of intensified immigration enforcement actions. The clashes serve as a stark reminder of the divisive nature of immigration policy and its profound impact on local communities.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/7/ice-operating-in-la-for-2nd-day-amid-protests-against-immigration-raids
