A wave of confusion swept through Los Angeles on Monday as President Donald Trump vowed to escalate deportation efforts in major cities including Los Angeles and Chicago, even as immigration officials had indicated a pause in enforcing worksite arrests in several key sectors.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump urged for expanded efforts to detain and deport what he termed “Illegal Aliens” residing in the nation’s largest cities, citing without evidence that they increased Democratic voter turnout.
This directive raised questions about the recent instruction from senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official Tatum King, which instructed agents to halt worksite enforcement operations at farms, restaurants, hotels, and similar venues.
King’s email specified that investigations related to serious crimes such as human trafficking and drug smuggling within these industries would still proceed, but it left many uncertain about the overall approach to immigration enforcement.
Since June 6, ICE agents have intensified their efforts in Los Angeles, targeting unauthorized workers in various public spaces, leading to increased tension throughout the city.
Stephen Miller, a senior advisor and chief architect of Trump’s immigration policies, indicated that at least 3,000 arrests a day would become the new aim for ICE, a significant increase from approximately 650 arrests daily earlier in Trump’s second term.
Democratic lawmakers, however, criticized this plan. Senator Adam Schiff from California expressed concerns that such aggressive actions would exacerbate societal tensions, disrupt families, and result in chaotic consequences, all while catering to Trump’s political base.
“Trump’s extreme policies are tearing the country apart and are detrimental to America,” Schiff stated on social media.
Senator Alex Padilla, who had an incident during a news conference where he was briefly handcuffed for trying to ask a question, voiced similar sentiments, stating that Trump has yet to offer tangible solutions for millions of law-abiding long-term residents contributing positively to society.
In response to Trump’s deportation plan, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the initiative as “illegal, divisive, and contrary to our values as a city.”
The current immigration enforcement strategies have sparked protests in the city’s Civic Center, resulting in occasional clashes between protesters, immigration advocates, and law enforcement authorities.
Damage to local businesses has occurred, and a downtown curfew was implemented to mitigate further destruction, although economic activity has sputtered, remaining vulnerable in the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.
On Monday, Bass stated that the curfew designed to maintain order would extend for another evening but would begin at a later time of 10 p.m., compared to the previous week’s 8 p.m. start.
Throughout Los Angeles, fears have spread concerning ICE checkpoints and the possibility of raids, prompting many immigrants, both documented and undocumented, to remain indoors for fear of being stopped by agents.
Continued immigration sweeps coincide with tensions involving military forces deployed by Trump, leading to ongoing confrontations between state and federal officials.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is set to rule on California’s appeal against Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in the city, which may significantly influence the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco condemned Trump’s federalization of California’s troops as an illegal overreach of power that violated both statutory authority and the Tenth Amendment.
During a recent protest labeled “No Kings,” intended to oppose Trump’s administration, tens of thousands marched across Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas, reflecting widespread dissent.
By Saturday night, authorities reported 35 arrests related to curfew violations, along with further charges for obstructing law enforcement and resisting arrest. Since the immigration protests began on June 6, the Los Angeles police have made a total of 575 arrests.
While Sunday witnessed a quieter atmosphere downtown, approximately 200 activists remained committed to the anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests, chanting slogans like “ICE out of LA! Whose streets? Our streets!”
Christopher Lee, 39, joined the protests carrying a sign, stating, “LA’s too hot for ICE,” feeling compelled to contribute to this critical moment against the backdrop of immigration raids.
Others, like 23-year-old Sean Patterson of Hollywood, felt similarly obligated to stand against immigration policies, highlighting a collective urgency among residents to engage in civil demonstrations amidst increasing tensions.
As evening descended, only a handful of dedicated activists remained near City Hall, having chosen to stay until the last moments. Bryan Sagastume, aged 25, represented his immigrant heritage with a Mexican flag, revealing personal stakes in the immigration discourse.
“Both my parents are immigrants,” Sagastume shared, expressing frustration over policies he perceives as unjust. “They worked hard and never committed any crimes. What Trump is doing is wrong.”
Sagastume described the anxiety within his family, specifically his mother’s reluctance to venture outside amid heightened fears surrounding immigration sweeps.
“She’s scared right now to go outside,” he lamented, encapsulating the emotional toll that the current immigration crackdown has inflicted on families in the community.
These unfolding events mark a significant chapter in the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy in the United States, juxtaposing the Trump administration’s hardline stance against the concerns of community leaders and residents in Los Angeles.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-16/trump-threatens-more-immigration-enforcement-as-la-protests-continue
