thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Los Angeles, California, in a powerful demonstration against President Donald Trump’s intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which some have controversially labeled as an “American Gestapo.” The protests, now in their fourth day, erupted in response to sweeping ICE raids targeting immigrant communities, particularly in areas with large Latino populations like Paramount and Compton. Demonstrators, waving Mexican, Honduran, and Salvadoran flags, chanted slogans like “ICE out of L.A.!” and “No human being is illegal,” while blocking major thoroughfares, including the 101 Freeway, and clashing with law enforcement.
The unrest began on June 6, following ICE arrests of at least 44 individuals, including some legal residents, prompting outrage over what protesters call heavy-handed tactics. Tensions escalated when Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops on June 7, followed by an additional 2,000 and 700 Marines on June 9, under Title 10 authority, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent. Newsom condemned the move as “illegal and immoral,” filing a lawsuit arguing it violates state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed this, calling the deployment a deliberate attempt to “sow chaos” in a city already on edge.
Protesters, including union leaders and activists, have faced tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrests, with reports of injuries and vandalism, including burning cars and graffiti like “Fuck ICE.” The Los Angeles Police Department reported 29 arrests on Saturday and 27 on Sunday, while San Francisco saw 60 arrests during related protests. Critics, including Newsom and Bass, argue the federal response has inflamed tensions, while Trump and allies like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defend the deployments, citing “violent mobs” attacking ICE agents. The White House claims the operations are essential to curb “lawlessness” and meet Trump’s goal of 3,000 daily migrant arrests.
The protests reflect deep divisions over Trump’s immigration policies, with Los Angeles, home to 1.8 million undocumented immigrants, as a focal point. Advocacy groups demand accountability for what they call “warrantless, military-style raids,” while Trump’s supporters, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, accuse local leaders of enabling chaos. As demonstrations spread to cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, the nation braces for further unrest, with California’s lawsuit and ongoing protests signaling a broader resistance to the administration’s deportation agenda.
