Los Angeles anti-ICE protests lead to arson, highway blockades and arrests
Dozens of protesters have been arrested in Los Angeles following a weekend of violence as tensions escalated over immigration raids in the city. The protests turned violent on Sunday, leading to the arrest of 41 individuals by law enforcement officials from multiple agencies. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) made 21 arrests, the California Highway Patrol made 19 arrests, and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department made one arrest.
The charges against the protesters include failure to disperse, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, looting, and arson. One individual was even arrested for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail. The LAPD also arrested 10 individuals on Saturday for failing to disperse.
The unrest began on Friday after federal agents conducted immigration raids in the city’s garment district, sparking outrage among the community. In response, President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops to the area, with 300 troops arriving over the weekend. Trump praised the decision, stating that it prevented Los Angeles from being “completely obliterated.”
As tensions escalated, protesters set self-driving cars on fire, blocked major highways, and clashed with law enforcement. National Guard troops were deployed to guard the Metropolitan Detention Center, and police fired crowd-control munitions to disperse the protesters. Demonstrators also set several self-driving electric vehicles on fire, causing explosions and chaos in the city.
The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly order on Sunday night, shutting down the area in downtown Los Angeles. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump’s deployment of the military and vowed to sue the administration, calling it “authoritarian tendencies.” Newsom arrived in Los Angeles to oversee the response to the protests.
ICE reported that they had arrested 118 illegal immigrants in Los Angeles, including five alleged gang members. The agency condemned the protests, stating that rioters were fighting to keep violent criminals on the streets. Representatives for Mayor Karen Bass did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The situation in Los Angeles remains tense, with ongoing clashes between protesters and law enforcement. The city is on edge as the debate over immigration enforcement continues to fuel unrest.
