The city of Glendale announced it will no longer hold federal immigration detainees at its city lockup. This decision comes after a review of an agreement made with Homeland Security and ICE in 2007. Glendale officials stated the agreement has become divisive despite previously being carefully managed.
“The city recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract—no matter how limited or carefully managed—has become divisive,” the city remarked. The city manager made the call to end the deal for the sake of public safety, trying to maintain the trust between the Glendale Police Department and the community.
Meanwhile, unrest erupted in downtown Los Angeles, where police expanded their unlawful assembly declaration to include the entire area, leading to widespread arrests. The initial declaration included the Civic Center area, where thousands gathered to protest against federal immigration raids. Police reported that incendiary devices had been thrown at mounted officers as protestors engaged in various acts of defiance.
In a particularly tense incident, a driver of a van was arrested after demonstrators pursued the vehicle, claiming it had intentionally veered toward them. Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like gunfire emanating from the van, although police later stated that no evidence of gunfire was found.
As protests escalated, at least 56 individuals were taken into custody over two days, with LAPD officers reporting arrests based on allegations of failure to disperse amidst an unlawful assembly declaration. Among those detained was a person accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at an officer and another who allegedly rammed a motorcycle into a line of officers.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell addressed the unrest at a press conference, urging the community to trust the police while affirming that they would not interfere with ICE operations. He defended the LAPD’s response time to federal requests for backup, stating that any delays experienced were due to external circumstances such as traffic and crowd density.
In a striking rebuke, California Governor Gavin Newsom described President Donald Trump’s actions as creating chaos. Newsom announced that he planned to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, citing a lack of communication with state officials. He characterized the situation as a spectacle driven by Trump’s desire to escalate tensions.
As tensions intensified in Los Angeles, Trump took to social media, calling protesters “troublemakers and insurrectionists,” and indicated that he had mobilized 500 Marines on standby to assist with the unrest. Concurrently, Waymo announced the suspension of its driverless ride services in downtown LA after several of its vehicles caught fire during protests.
Alongside these events, the California Highway Patrol utilized flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds on the 101 Freeway, which had been shut down due to protest activities. Trump further stoked the flames of unrest by declaring the protesters an “insurrectionist mob” and ordering federal agencies to take action.
Newsom urged protestors to remain peaceful amidst calls for action, expressing discontent with the federal response to the situation. He stated that the deployment of National Guard troops was unnecessary, referencing a history of civil unrest in the city and asserting that such military presence would only inflame tensions.
In various parts of Los Angeles, smaller protests erupted in response to federal immigration raids, leading to vandalism and confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators. A gas station was looted, and a car was set ablaze, showcasing the chaotic atmosphere as protests swelled.
In response to threats from Trump’s border czar that even local officials could face consequence for impeding ICE operations, both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed their discontent with the deployment of National Guard units, labeling it a federal overreach. Bass emphasized that the city is more than capable of maintaining order without additional military presence.
Additionally, the protests highlight a growing divide in the narrative surrounding immigration policies and public safety. A significant portion of the population in Los Angeles, where over one in three residents are foreign-born, expressed fear and resistance to federal immigration operatives conducting raids throughout the community.
Lawmakers and public officials have weighed in amidst the unrest, criticizing the strategy employed by the Trump administration while supporting the rights of Angelenos to protest peacefully. Many claimed that the actions being taken only reinforced the need for comprehensive immigration reform and community support.
Concerted efforts by activists and community leaders sought to counteract the negative portrayal of the protestors, emphasizing that the demonstrations were largely peaceful expressions of discontent with the government’s immigration policies.
As violent incidents unfold, officials have reiterated their commitment to public safety while navigating the complexities of community relations during periods of discord. The ongoing situation in Los Angeles serves as a snapshot of contemporary challenges regarding immigration, law enforcement, and civil rights at a national level.
image source from：https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/trump-los-angeles-immigration-protests-rcna211695
