A wave of protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to a series of arrests by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following alleged immigration violations.
Starting on Saturday AEST, the demonstrations were triggered by ICE agents conducting raids in various neighborhoods across the city, which resulted in at least 44 arrests.
As tensions heightened, law enforcement retaliated by deploying tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters on the streets.
In a controversial move, President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 members of the military reserve and the National Guard to the city, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Thousands of National Guard troops have since gathered in Los Angeles, where the Department of Homeland Security has stated their mission is to protect federal buildings amid the unrest.
The situation remains tense as protests continue day after day, signalling a significant flashpoint in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies aimed at deporting individuals believed to be living in the U.S. illegally.
Demonstrations continue to escalate outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles, a facility that houses many of those detained during the ICE raids.
Law enforcement officers were seen standing guard at intersections around the Edward R Roybal Federal Building, which has witnessed extensive anti-ICE graffiti as protesters express their dissent.
In a show of force, National Guard troops have been positioned at key locations, including the entrance of the detention center.
During the protests, several self-driving Waymo taxis were set alight, prompting the company to temporarily suspend its services due to the vandalism.
Los Angeles Police Department officials reported that over 50 arrests were made during the demonstrations, with five officers sustaining minor injuries.
While law enforcement acknowledged the violence, they maintained that the majority of protesters had been peaceful, stressing that only a small fraction was involved in the unrest.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the isolated nature of the violence, stating, “This is isolated to a few streets. This is not citywide civil unrest,” countering the narrative often portrayed by President Trump.
In light of the escalating situation, the U.S. military plans to temporarily deploy about 700 marines to Los Angeles until additional National Guard troops arrive.
Governor Newsom has responded to this deployment with outrage, filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration that argues the military’s deployment violates federal law and state sovereignty.
He referred to the situation as “deranged,” expressing concern over the deployment of military personnel, stating, “US marines have served honorably across multiple wars in defense of democracy.
They shouldn’t be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President. This is un-American.”
As the protests continue to unfold, the focus remains on the intensifying conflict between local authorities, demonstrators, and federal enforcement agencies during a period of heightened political and social tensions related to immigration policies.
With the ongoing unrest and varying perspectives on the appropriateness of military presence in domestic affairs, Los Angeles finds itself at the center of a national debate over immigration enforcement and civil liberties.
image source from：https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-los-angeles-immigration-protests-in-pictures/iwqv9rl6c
