As sweeping immigration raids continue across the country, Los Angeles has enacted a curfew to address the growing unrest stemming from protests against the detention and removal of suspected undocumented migrants.
Beginning Tuesday night, the curfew will be in place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to Mayor Karen Bass, who stated that the measure was necessary to prevent further disorder in the city.
“If you drive through downtown L.A., the graffiti is everywhere and has caused significant damages,” Bass remarked, noting that Monday night alone saw 29 businesses looted.
Protesters have mobilized in cities from coast to coast, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta, voicing their opposition to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies and aggressive round-up operations targeting undocumented individuals.
Reports from NBC News indicate that at least 25 rallies occurred nationwide since Monday, ranging from small gatherings of a few dozen to large protests attracting thousands.
In tandem with the protests, federal immigration enforcement operations were active Tuesday, particularly in Los Angeles, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a “targeted enforcement operation,” and in Omaha, Nebraska, where a raid took place at a meat processing facility.
Pictures shared by ICE depicted federal agents in military attire alongside handcuffed individuals in Los Angeles, showcasing the intense enforcement presence in the area.
In Omaha, local business operations were disrupted when federal agents arrested approximately 80 people at Glenn Valley Foods and Lala Dairy.
Chad Hartmann, a spokesperson for Glenn Valley Foods, stated that federal agents were searching for individuals believed to have used fraudulent documents for employment.
Hartmann noted that the company works within legal frameworks and cooperated with federal authorities, highlighting that it has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
On a broader scale, President Donald Trump, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, authorized the deployment of around 700 Marines and over 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, a decision that has faced sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass.
“This is not an insurrection,” Bass asserted in a Tuesday interview, underscoring that the curfew area represents a small fraction of the city’s nearly 500-square-mile landscape.
Despite the local officials’ objections, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported over 300 arrests connected to the protests since Saturday, with seven officers sustaining injuries during the disturbances.
During protests on the 101 Freeway, California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Kyle Foster noted that 67 individuals were arrested for failing to disperse.
Sources reveal that the National Guard and Marines may assist in providing security and transportation for ICE officials as the raids continue.
“All we want is safety,” President Trump stated on Tuesday, indicating an intent to maintain law and order amid ongoing protests.
Operations involving the Marines were set to commence by Wednesday, as detailed by a spokesperson for U.S. Northern Command.
Under federal law, National Guard personnel and Marines are typically prohibited from making arrests unless the president declares an insurrection is occurring.
Governor Newsom, however, challenged the legality of the federal troops’ involvement, arguing that their deployment without state approval constitutes an illegal power grab by President Trump.
The state has subsequently filed an emergency request for a temporary restraining order to halt the unauthorized expansion of military authority in Los Angeles, augmenting a lawsuit designed to counter the troop deployment.
During a press conference on Tuesday, California House Democrats addressed concerns surrounding ICE arrests and troop deployment, emphasizing that the protests had already been contained prior to the National Guard’s arrival.
Rep. Nanette Barragán recounted how local law enforcement effectively managed the situation without the military’s involvement, expressing apprehensions that the Trump administration’s actions are designed to escalate tensions.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi likened the current protests to the events of January 6, 2021, remarking that while she and fellow lawmakers pleaded for Trump’s assistance with the Capitol riots, he mobilized the National Guard in California without any compelling rationale.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concerns about the logistical challenges presented by the federal troop deployment, emphasizing the need for coherent coordination between local and federal agencies.
“The arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles – absent clear coordination – presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city,” McDonnell stated.
He reiterated his calls for better communication between involved agencies to best address the situation.
Mayor Bass criticized the necessity of troop deployment, defending the city’s existing law enforcement strategies while rebuffing assertions from federal officials accusing her of undermining law enforcement efforts.
Bass remarked that the federal presence exacerbates the community’s anxiety and urged an end to immigration raids in the area.
In Los Angeles, protesters began gathering around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, leading to increased law enforcement presence and U.S. marshals in the vicinity.
Rallies were also reported in various other cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, and Las Vegas, demonstrating widespread national opposition to immigration enforcement actions.
In Seattle, approximately 50 individuals protested outside a federal immigration court, voicing their concerns against ICE operations.
Similarly, in Las Vegas, a group convened outside the Federal Tower to manifest their disapproval of immigration enforcement measures.
Local law enforcement coordinated with protest organizers in Las Vegas to ensure that the demonstrations remained peaceful and that arrests were minimized.
In New York City, multiple arrests occurred amidst protests against immigration enforcement, with police confirming at least nine arrests during intense standoffs the previous day.
The protests aimed to challenge not only ICE operations but also a travel ban that the Trump administration issued recently affecting 12 countries.
In Philadelphia, tensions flared between protesters and police outside the Federal Detention Center, leading to 14 arrests for various infractions, including disorderly conduct and aggravated assault.
Reports also indicated that both police officers and arrested individuals sustained minor injuries during these clashes.
More demonstrations were underway in Boston, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, signifying the extensive reach of the protests across the nation.
In Austin, Texas, law enforcement reported arrests linked to protest actions, with Governor Greg Abbott stressing the legal nature of peaceful protests but warning against crossing lines that lead to arrest.
Austin police stated that demonstrators marched from the Texas Capitol to the JJ Pickle Federal Building amid escalating tensions, resulting in injuries among law enforcement officers.
While nearly 500 people gathered at the Texas Capitol, protests also took place in San Antonio, and individual arrests were made in Dallas, where demonstrators temporarily blocked a busy intersection.
Rallies and demonstrations also unfolded in cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Chicago; Detroit; and Oklahoma City.
Further protests were scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago and Atlanta, reflecting the ongoing nationwide dissent.
In a notable incident, a sedan attempted to veer toward protesters in Chicago but fortunately resulted in no injuries, leading to the driver’s subsequent arrest.
While amidst widespread protests, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed that ICE’s operations would continue unabated, signaling a challenging road ahead for activists seeking to halt the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
image source from：https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/anti-ice-protests-held-coast-coast-l-unrest-national-movement-grows-rcna211980
