Mayor Bass Declares Emergency Over Downtown LA Unrest \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Mayor Karen Bass enacted a curfew in downtown Los Angeles amid escalating protests and looting tied to federal immigration raids. National Guard and Marines have been deployed without state approval, sparking controversy and legal opposition. Trump’s comments and actions are fueling tensions as arrests and violence increase.
Quick Looks
- LA Mayor declares local emergency and curfew in 1-square-mile downtown area
- 23 businesses looted; more than 100 arrests made since protests began
- National Guard and Marines deployed without state request
- Governor Newsom files lawsuit to block troop deployment
- Trump suggests invoking the Insurrection Act amid rising tensions
- ICE confirms military presence assisting with immigration operations
- Police report rising violence, but officials insist local forces can manage
- Demonstrations continue nationwide in response to immigration raids
Deep Look
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew on downtown LA starting Tuesday night, citing the need “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.” She announced a local emergency as unrest linked to immigration enforcement escalated, saying, “We reached a tipping point” after 23 businesses were looted. The curfew, lasting from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, covers a one-square-mile stretch of downtown where protests have erupted since Friday.
The curfew excludes local residents, unhoused individuals, credentialed media, and emergency personnel, according to Police Chief Jim McDonnell. He emphasized that “unlawful and dangerous behavior” has been mounting since Saturday. “The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property,” McDonnell said.
Earlier Tuesday, National Guard troops expanded their role from guarding federal buildings to supporting ICE operations, including arrests. Images shared by ICE showed troops protecting officers making immigration-related arrests. The agency confirmed the Guard is also providing transport and temporary detention support — a move bringing them closer to enforcement duties.
Governor Gavin Newsom objected to this shift, filing an emergency request to a federal court to stop the Trump administration from deploying National Guard and Marines for immigration raids. Trump had ordered roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA. Newsom warned the move would inflame tensions, not ease them.
The Pentagon reported that the deployment costs $134 million. Marine Gen. Eric Smith testified that Marines had not yet engaged with protesters and were only protecting federal property. They are trained in crowd control but lack arrest powers. National Guard troops, by contrast, have authority to detain individuals until law enforcement intervenes.
Tensions heightened as President Trump left the door open to invoking the Insurrection Act, allowing military intervention during domestic unrest. “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it,” he stated. Later, he referred to protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy” during a speech at Fort Bragg.
The protests began following aggressive ICE raids that led to dozens of arrests. Over the weekend, demonstrators blocked major freeways, set cars ablaze, and clashed with police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Though the protests have since calmed, sporadic looting and violence continue. Several downtown stores were burglarized Monday night, though not necessarily by protesters.
ICE reported Molotov cocktails, vandalism, and arson targeting federal property. LAPD confirmed over 100 arrests, mostly for refusing to disperse, with a few facing serious charges like attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Seven officers were injured, and two were briefly hospitalized.
On Tuesday, a peaceful protest outside the federal complex was declared an unlawful assembly. Police issued dispersal orders, warned the media to stay back, and arrested demonstrators with zip ties. Graffiti targeting Trump and federal agencies was visible across downtown buildings. City workers began scrubbing vandalized landmarks like the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
In Santa Ana, armored Guard vehicles restricted access to immigration offices. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted on Capitol Hill that troop involvement in domestic operations would likely grow under Trump’s policies. “The Guard and Reserves are becoming critical to homeland security,” he said.
Despite the military escalation, Mayor Bass and LAPD maintain they don’t need federal backup. Chief McDonnell warned that uncoordinated troop deployments could complicate response efforts. Demonstrations have since spread to cities like San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, and New York, where similar arrests were made.
California’s Democratic congressional members accuse Trump of provoking a “manufactured crisis.” State Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued to stop the federal deployment, and a judge has set a Thursday hearing. Trump, however, defended his decision, claiming the Guard prevented LA from being “completely obliterated.”
This marks one of the rare occasions when a state’s National Guard was activated without the governor’s consent — a major escalation in federal-local conflict over immigration enforcement and protest response.
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