LA Police Enforce Curfew Amid Immigration Protest Unrest/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Los Angeles police enforced a strict curfew Tuesday, arresting protesters opposing President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The city is under emergency status as National Guard and Marines patrol downtown. Tensions remain high with continued raids, mass arrests, and looming federal actions.
LA Protest Crackdown Quick Looks
- LAPD enforced curfew swiftly, arresting protesters minutes after it began
- Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA
- Military presence triggered legal challenge from Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Curfew covers key protest areas, runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Protests erupted after ICE raids, with mass arrests and looting
- Trump may invoke Insurrection Act, calling protesters “a foreign enemy”
- Pentagon estimates troop deployment will cost $134 million
- California’s lawsuit seeks to halt military’s involvement in arrests
- Protests spread nationally, with unrest in Texas, New York, and Chicago
- Arrests totaled 197 Tuesday, with charges from looting to attempted murder
Deep Look: LA Police Enforce Curfew Amid Trump Immigration Protests
LOS ANGELES — A dramatic crackdown unfolded Tuesday night in downtown Los Angeles as police, supported by a heavy National Guard presence, enforced a strict curfew against protesters rallying against President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement.
As the 8 p.m. curfew took effect, LAPD officers moved swiftly, arresting dozens of demonstrators within minutes, some using crowd-control projectiles and deploying officers on horseback to disperse crowds. National Guard troops, armed and stationed behind plastic shields, maintained a looming presence but did not directly engage.
The heightened security measures came in response to days of escalating unrest, sparked by federal immigration raids that began Friday and have resulted in dozens of arrests. While most demonstrations remained peaceful, officials said some gatherings led to vandalism and looting.
Emergency Measures and Political Showdown
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency, imposing a nightly curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., covering a 1-square-mile section of downtown. She cited 23 looted businesses as the tipping point.
“This curfew is about protecting lives and property,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. “It’s a necessary measure given the escalation of unrest in recent days.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply condemned the military deployment, calling it a “military dragnet” and filing an emergency injunction to halt the use of troops in federal immigration operations. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
“This is not law and order—it’s provocation,” Newsom said in a televised address. “California may be first, but we won’t be the last.”
Trump Signals Possible Insurrection Act Use
President Trump defended the deployments and left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme tools available to a U.S. president to deploy military forces domestically.
“If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
Later, during a speech at Fort Bragg marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Trump described protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy,” language critics say incites further division.
Despite local objections, Trump has already activated over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines, citing the need to protect federal buildings and support ICE operations.
Legal and Civil Rights Concerns
Governor Newsom’s legal filing argues that the deployment brings troops dangerously close to performing domestic law enforcement, a violation of long-standing civil-military boundaries.
While the military personnel do not currently make arrests, they are allowed to temporarily detain individuals who assault officers, adding to public unease.
The Pentagon confirmed the current deployment is expected to cost $134 million, with troops scheduled to remain in place for at least 60 days.
Arrests, Injuries, and Ongoing Tensions
LAPD made 197 arrests on Tuesday, including 67 for blocking the 101 freeway and others for vandalism, looting, and even attempted murder linked to a Molotov cocktail incident. At least seven officers were injured, with two requiring hospitalization.
Protesters have remained concentrated downtown, including outside City Hall and a federal detention facility, where many undocumented immigrants are reportedly being held.
Despite the protests, immigration enforcement actions have continued across Los Angeles County, with ICE agents spotted at libraries, car washes, and Home Depot locations. Many school graduations have heightened security, fearing further raids, and some have offered virtual attendance for concerned parents.
National Ripple Effects
Demonstrations have now spread to cities including Austin, Dallas, New York, and Chicago, with arrests reported in multiple locations. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the Texas National Guard is on standby, and troops have been deployed to San Antonio.
Assistant Police Chief Jesse Salame said he didn’t yet have details on troop numbers but confirmed the deployment in response to scheduled demonstrations.
What’s Next?
While tensions remain high, sporadic clashes Tuesday night were smaller than over the weekend. Still, officials warn the situation is fluid, with further unrest possible as California’s legal challenge moves through court and protests persist nationwide.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has indicated that expanded military presence on U.S. soil will continue under Trump, especially for immigration and civil unrest. Critics call the move authoritarian; supporters say it’s necessary.
As Los Angeles braces for another night under curfew, the nation watches closely—where immigration enforcement, protest rights, and executive power collide.
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