• LA Burns as violent protests erupt: Demonstrators clashed with law enforcement, set fire to self-driving cars, and blocked major highways in response to immigration raids.
• Trump Deploys National Guard: President Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, escalating tensions with local leaders who condemned the move as provocative.
• Public Backlash and Political Divide: California officials, including Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass, criticized federal intervention, while protesters decried Trump’s immigration policies.

Los Angeles Descends Into Chaos as Immigration Protests Turn Violent

What started as a weekend of planned protests quickly turned into a full-blown crisis in Los Angeles, where anger over immigration raids exploded into flames—both metaphorically and literally. The city found itself at the epicenter of a dramatic showdown between protesters, local officials, and the Trump administration.

By Sunday night, streets in downtown LA had become unrecognizable, engulfed in smoke, echoing with chants, sirens, and cries of defiance. Protesters faced off with police and federal agents as the demonstrations spiraled out of control. The spark? A series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ordered by President Donald Trump that swept across Southern California, triggering outrage among immigrant communities and their supporters.

Protests Ignite and Spread Through the City

The first waves of protesters began gathering Friday evening in downtown Los Angeles. At first, they were peaceful—carrying signs, waving flags, chanting slogans in both English and Spanish. But tensions were high. As night fell, the atmosphere shifted. The crackdown by immigration officers, combined with the heavy-handed federal response, pushed the protests into a more volatile direction.

By Saturday, the unrest had spread beyond downtown to neighborhoods like Paramount and Compton. The protests grew larger, louder—and more confrontational. But it was Sunday that marked the turning point.

Thousands of demonstrators swarmed the 101 Freeway, completely halting traffic in both directions. Families, young activists, and longtime residents joined together, their chants echoing over stalled cars. Authorities told drivers to turn around as they scrambled to restore order. When protesters climbed overpasses and began hurling debris onto the cars below, law enforcement had to shut the freeway down once again.

Self-Driving Cars Targeted Amid Destruction

In a surreal twist, demonstrators began attacking Waymo self-driving cars in downtown LA. At least five of these futuristic robotaxis—each valued at around \$150,000—were torched or smashed. Videos captured flames licking the sky as the cars exploded, releasing clouds of toxic gas from their lithium-ion batteries.

One protester repeatedly bashed in a Waymo’s window while another danced on a roof waving a Mexican flag. The crowd chanted “Burn, burn, burn,” as the fire raged. Authorities warned of serious health hazards from burning electric vehicle batteries, which release dangerous chemicals like hydrogen fluoride.

Waymo quickly suspended operations in the area to protect what remained of its fleet. Streets surrounding the destruction were closed indefinitely due to safety concerns.

Clashes with Police Grow More Violent

The Los Angeles Police Department was quickly overwhelmed. Officers in riot gear tried to hold the line as protesters formed barricades using trash cans, chairs, and even furniture pulled from nearby shops. At multiple sites around the city—especially near Temple Street and Main Street—demonstrators refused to back down.

Authorities declared several areas “unlawful assemblies” and began issuing dispersal orders. When those went ignored, police authorized the use of so-called “less-lethal munitions,” such as rubber bullets and tear gas.

In some cases, chaos reigned. Two officers were injured after motorcyclists drove straight through the crowd, reportedly running over authorities in the process. Protesters hurled concrete and bottles at law enforcement, and some lit small fires that spread quickly. Homemade signs morphed into symbols of rage. One group was even seen carrying a grotesque model of Trump’s severed head atop a pole.

Outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, mounted police squared off with a swelling crowd as tensions escalated. Officers stood on alert as the situation teetered between demonstration and outright rebellion.

Political Leaders Clash as City Burns

While the violence played out in the streets, a political battle raged behind the scenes. President Trump, watching from afar, ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Another 500 Marines were put on standby. His message was blunt: restore order, expel undocumented immigrants, and end what he described as a “migrant invasion.”

“This is no longer protest—this is insurrection,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Los Angeles has been taken over by illegals and criminals. We will take it back.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom was furious. He accused Trump of pouring gasoline on the fire and usurping the state’s authority. “We didn’t have a crisis until Trump intervened,” Newsom declared. “This is dictatorship behavior.”

Mayor Karen Bass echoed that sentiment. “Our city is not a battlefield,” she told CNN. “Sending in the National Guard and federal troops only adds fuel to an already combustible situation.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also weighed in, condemning the ICE raids and calling the troop deployment “a dangerous escalation designed to provoke panic and division.”

National Guard Arrives as Fear Grips Communities

By Sunday afternoon, the first wave of National Guard troops—members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team—arrived on the ground in Los Angeles. Equipped with long guns and armored vehicles, they formed a visible and unsettling presence in the downtown area.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth assured the public that the troops were there to restore peace while allowing lawful protests. But the visual of military personnel confronting American citizens only heightened the sense of crisis.

Back at the epicenter of the unrest, the LAPD entered a “tactical alert” phase. Officers were told they couldn’t end their shifts and had to remain available indefinitely. Low-priority calls—such as traffic accidents or noise complaints—would be delayed or ignored.

The Underlying Trigger: ICE Raids and Arrests

At the heart of the storm were the ICE raids that began Friday. Trump’s administration claimed the operations were targeting serious offenders. Tom Homan, Trump’s border enforcement chief, said the raids had already netted more than 100 arrests, including alleged child predators, gang members, and national security threats.

“These are bad people,” Homan said. “Los Angeles is safer because of these arrests.”

But critics argue the raids were broad, indiscriminate, and traumatizing to immigrant families. Many say the ICE agents wore masks and arrived in the dead of night to avoid detection—and potential backlash. For thousands of residents, especially in neighborhoods with high undocumented populations, the fear was palpable.