A curfew remained in place in downtown Los Angeles for a second consecutive night, as protests against the Trump administration’s immigration raids entered their seventh day. The city has witnessed escalating tensions, with more than 400 arrests and confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.
The unrest was sparked by a wave of federal immigration raids carried out in the city, part of a broader crackdown ordered by President Donald Trump. Demonstrations began over the weekend and have since intensified, with violent clashes reported near Los Angeles’ civic center on Wednesday night. Police in riot gear and on horseback used projectiles to disperse crowds just before the curfew took effect at 10 p.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the curfew would remain in place “as long as necessary,” warning that continued federal raids could prolong the nightly lockdown. “If there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,” she said during a press briefing.
More than 20 people were detained on Tuesday night alone, primarily for curfew violations. Three individuals have been charged with more serious offenses, including possession of a weapon, a Molotov cocktail, and assaulting a police officer.
On social media, Mayor Bass criticized what she called the Trump administration’s “chaotic escalation,” saying it had provoked unrest in a city that had otherwise been peaceful. “A week ago, everything was calm,” she said, accusing the federal government of overstepping its authority.
President Trump, however, defended the military deployment, which includes 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines nationwide. He said without the military, Los Angeles “would be burning to the ground.” Approximately 500 National Guard personnel assigned to the city are trained to accompany immigration agents on raids, according to Major General Scott Sherman.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed an emergency lawsuit seeking to halt the military’s involvement in immigration enforcement, citing constitutional concerns. The Trump administration has dismissed the legal challenge as a “crass political stunt.”
Meanwhile, the demonstrations have spread beyond Los Angeles. Protests erupted in Austin and Dallas, Texas, and in Chicago, where 86 people were arrested. A 66-year-old woman was injured during protests in downtown Chicago on Tuesday.
Despite rising tensions, the Trump administration has given no indication that it will back down from its immigration crackdown, and the situation in Los Angeles remains volatile.
