Protests erupt in LA after immigration raids and Trump’s troop deployment. Source image: instagram @Compl
(The Post News)- A tense and volatile atmosphere gripped Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday as large-scale protests over immigration raids and federal troop deployment escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement. The unrest, marked by fires, looting, and a historic federal intervention, prompted citywide emergency declarations and sharp political condemnation.
As demonstrators flooded the streets of central Los Angeles for a fourth consecutive day, police responded with force. According to CNN journalists on the ground, officers deployed flash-bang grenades and tear gas in multiple locations to disperse crowds. Witnesses reported seeing officers physically engage protesters during arrests pushing, shoving, and in some cases, striking demonstrators as tensions mounted.
In a dramatic display of chaos, at least two self-driving vehicles were set ablaze amid the turmoil. As dusk approached, the Los Angeles Police Department officially declared all of Downtown Los Angeles an area of unlawful assembly, ordering residents and protesters alike to leave the area immediately.
Despite the declaration, many demonstrators returned to key protest zones after nightfall. Reports from the LAPD indicated scattered altercations and in-group fighting among protesters, further complicating the already unstable situation.
At the heart of the controversy is President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 300 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without a formal request from the state—a move not seen in decades. Citing a need to “protect federal personnel and property,” the White House authorized the deployment on Saturday. An additional 500 U.S. Marines are reportedly on standby, though not yet active in the city.
The decision has prompted fierce backlash from California officials. Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the move as an overreach of federal power and announced that California will sue the Trump administration over what he called an “unconstitutional deployment of military personnel on state soil.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized the decision, warning that the presence of armed federal troops risks inflaming an already tense public. “This is not a security solution,” Bass said in a press conference. “This is an escalation.”
According to intelligence analysts cited by federal officials, the unrest is driven by a combination of grievances, including opposition to immigration enforcement tactics, the use of military forces in civilian areas, and alleged interference by organized agitators, whom officials described as “professional rioters”.
The protests have now broadened to include demands for immigrant protections, police accountability, and civil liberties, with a diverse coalition of demonstrators participating across the city.
As of Sunday evening, NBC News reported that at least 27 individuals had been arrested in Downtown Los Angeles. Of these, 10 were taken into custody by the LAPD, and 17 by the California Highway Patrol. This follows 29 arrests made on Saturday, pushing the total number of weekend arrests to 56.
Los Angeles Police Captain Raul Jovel confirmed that arrests were continuing late into the evening and noted that three officers sustained minor injuries during confrontations with demonstrators.
“Our officers are really under attack,” Jovel told reporters. “We’re trying to get into that posture where we’re able to make arrests right now.”
In addition to physical confrontations and property damage, police are responding to multiple reports of looting from business owners in Downtown Los Angeles. According to an LAPD statement, shops near the intersection of 6th Street and Broadway were targeted during the protests. Officers have been dispatched to investigate, though no arrests have yet been confirmed in connection with those incidents.
Several storefronts in the area were seen with broken windows and spray-painted messages, while nearby residents reported the sound of alarms and looters fleeing on foot.
Throughout the day, aerial surveillance by law enforcement intensified as the situation on the ground deteriorated. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 confirmed that helicopters from the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol patrolled the skies from approximately 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Helicopters were observed circling several densely populated neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Compton, the Fashion District, and South Park, suggesting coordinated surveillance operations across the city.
Meanwhile, local officials continue to urge calm while preparing for the possibility of prolonged unrest in the days ahead.
The situation in Los Angeles remains fluid and unpredictable. With legal battles looming, military forces on standby, and communities still reeling from immigration crackdowns, the city is bracing for further protests and searching for a path back to stability.
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