IRIA News

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Los Angeles officials imposed an emergency curfew in the heart of downtown following five consecutive days of intensifying protests over President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

The demonstrations, which began Friday in response to a series of high-profile federal immigration raids across the city, have escalated into a broader confrontation over the use of military force and federal authority in urban centers.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency and announced that the curfew would be in effect from 8:00 p.m. Tuesday until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. The curfew applies to a one-square-mile zone in the downtown area, specifically where the largest gatherings have occurred since the protests began.

“We reached a tipping point,” Bass said during a press briefing, citing the looting of 23 businesses and a rise in confrontational tactics by protesters.

The curfew does not apply to area residents, the unhoused, credentialed members of the press, or emergency personnel, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. However, the decision reflects heightened concerns that clashes, property damage, and disorder are increasingly overshadowing protests.

WATCH: This is not peaceful.

California politicians must call off their rioting mob.

The United States is a nation of laws, and lawbreakers will be brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/7KcmSF7w0p

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 10, 2025

Looting and damage to public buildings

As the curfew took effect, a tense standoff unfolded in the downtown area. A police helicopter hovered above federal government buildings and loudly ordered demonstrators to evacuate the area. Lines of riot police, some on horseback, others on foot, moved in to disperse crowds that refused to leave.

Chief McDonnell pointed to the increased aggression from some demonstrators as justification for stronger enforcement measures. “The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city,” he said.

On June 10 alone, the Los Angeles Police Department made 197 arrests, including 67 individuals who had occupied a portion of the 101 Freeway in defiance of police orders.

Charges ranged from failure to disperse to more serious offenses, including looting, vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon, and attempted murder. One protester reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail. Seven police officers were injured in the chaos, with two hospitalized and later released.

By Wednesday morning, demonstrations had been reported in at least 25 U.S. cities. Major urban centers, including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Miami, have all witnessed significant turnouts, often in the thousands.

Many of these gatherings have remained peaceful, marked by chants, speeches, and candlelight vigils, but several cities have also experienced clashes with law enforcement.

In New York, protesters marched across the Brooklyn Bridge Tuesday night, briefly blocking traffic before being dispersed by police. Over 120 people were arrested near City Hall Park after refusing to leave the area past midnight.

In Chicago, demonstrators gathered outside the ICE Field Office on Congress Parkway, leading to multiple standoffs and over 30 arrests. In Portland, protesters attempted to occupy a federal building for the second consecutive night before being pushed back with tear gas.

The demonstrations have drawn a diverse cross-section of participants, from immigration advocates and civil rights groups to students, labor unions, and even some veterans opposing the domestic use of the military. Many protesters are now using the slogan “Not on Our Streets” to oppose the visible deployment of troops in U.S. cities.

Immigration raids sparked protests

The protests were initially sparked by a wave of surprise immigration raids carried out by federal agents targeting businesses across Los Angeles. Dozens of undocumented workers were detained in a coordinated operation that critics say lacked transparency and targeted vulnerable communities. As word of the raids spread, protests erupted in several parts of the city, drawing thousands of demonstrators over the weekend.

“Peaceful protest.”

Call it what it is: a violent riot. pic.twitter.com/iNltWAH5wp

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) June 8, 2025

Demonstrators blocked major roadways, including the 101 freeway, and clashed with law enforcement near detention facilities. City Hall saw mass gatherings during the day, while federal properties, including ICE offices and temporary holding centers, became focal points for more confrontational protest activity at night.

Despite the growing public outcry and visible military presence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has continued operations throughout Los Angeles County. Activists and local officials have reported ICE agents appearing at locations such as libraries, grocery stores, car washes, and Home Depot branches. The fear of detainment has led some schools to enhance graduation security, even offering Zoom alternatives for families worried about attending in person.

Trump considers invoking the Insurrection Act

From the Oval Office, President Trump left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used and controversial measure that would allow the president to use military forces domestically to restore public order or suppress rebellion.

“If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see,” U.S. President Donald Trump stated when pressed by reporters.

Later, speaking at a Fort Bragg event commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, Trump escalated his rhetoric, referring to protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy.” His comments have drawn fierce criticism from both Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups, who argue the president is militarizing civilian governance and undermining democratic norms.

🚨 NOW: LAPD has declared everyone under arrest, protesters and press included.

There’s no way out. Kettled in. Cameras rolling.

Even the media is feeling what happens when law stops asking questions and starts issuing commands.

History isn’t just being reported tonight. It’s… pic.twitter.com/lLzkrrnc4O

— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) June 10, 2025

Trump has portrayed Los Angeles as a lawless war zone, a characterization that both Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom have rejected as an exaggeration aimed at justifying federal overreach.

Deployment of the National Guard and Marines escalates tensions

At the center of the controversy is President Trump’s decision to deploy over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles and other cities experiencing unrest over immigration enforcement.

The soldiers were originally tasked with protecting federal buildings but have increasingly been used to support ICE activities, prompting criticism that their role is veering dangerously close to law enforcement, in violation of established legal boundaries.

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly condemned the move and filed an emergency court petition to halt the deployment of troops in immigration-related duties. The request argued that the federal government’s actions risk exacerbating tensions and fueling further civil unrest.

“California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next,” Newsom said in a televised address on Tuesday evening. “What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give it to him.”

The court has not yet ruled on the governor’s emergency filing, allowing federal activities to continue until a scheduled hearing on Thursday.

Pentagon confirms $134 million price tag for military deployment in LA

During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, the Pentagon revealed that the cost of deploying troops to Los Angeles for 60 days will amount to approximately $134 million. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn MacDonnel told lawmakers the expenses cover travel, lodging, food, and operational logistics.

The deployment is funded through the Department of Defense’s operations and maintenance budget. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, defended the operation’s legality and necessity.

“President [Donald] Trump believes in law and order, so he has every authority,” Hegseth said in response to questions from Representative Pete Aguilar.

Aguilar and other Democrats raised legal and constitutional concerns about the deployment, warning that the military’s growing involvement in domestic affairs, especially without a formal Insurrection Act declaration, could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of armed forces in civilian law enforcement roles.