On June 8, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a controversial policy banning protesters from wearing masks during demonstrations in Los Angeles, while allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to continue using masks and unmarked vehicles. This follows two days of intense protests in Los Angeles, sparked by ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants, which resulted in at least 150 detentions. The policy, posted by Trump on Truth Social at 2:41 a.m. ET, has drawn sharp criticism, with some X users, like @davthewave, arguing that protesters wear masks to protect against tear gas used by federal agents, not to conceal identities. Others, including @US_Latino, highlighted the hypocrisy of ICE agents operating without badges or name tags, raising concerns about accountability.
Trump also authorized the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles under Title 10 authority, bypassing Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. Newsom called the move “purposefully inflammatory,” warning it would escalate tensions, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed confidence in local law enforcement’s ability to manage without federal intervention. The National Guard, expected to remain for 60 days or at the discretion of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, began arriving in Los Angeles early Sunday from San Bernardino County. Hegseth further threatened to mobilize active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton if violence persists, a move criticized by Senator Alex Padilla as “inappropriate” and by the Brennan Center for Justice as potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
The protests, centered in areas like Paramount and downtown Los Angeles, erupted after ICE raids on workplaces, including a garment factory and Home Depot locations, where day laborers were detained. Clashes involved tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets, with protesters throwing rocks and setting fires. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), led by Chief Jim McDonnell, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, under Sheriff Robert Luna, reiterated their non-cooperation with ICE, citing California’s sanctuary state laws. McDonnell emphasized the LAPD’s 55-minute response time to federal calls for assistance, disputing ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons’ claim of a two-hour delay.
Trump is set to meet with top officials, including Hegseth, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, to discuss further immigration enforcement strategies. The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, described the protests as “violent mobs” attacking federal agents, justifying the National Guard deployment. Meanwhile, critics like Newsom and Bass argue the raids and federal response are sowing chaos in communities already recovering from recent wildfires. Protests are expected to continue Sunday, with organizers planning a 2 p.m. demonstration at City Hall.
This situation remains fluid, with significant legal and social implications as Los Angeles braces for an extended National Guard presence.
