In Los Angeles, a collective of mayors from across the region convened on Wednesday to call upon the Trump administration to halt the intensified immigration raids, which have instilled fear and spurred protests throughout the nation. Their appeal, however, did not yield any indication of compliance from President Donald Trump.
On the same day, it was revealed that about 500 National Guard troops assigned to the protests in Los Angeles have received training to accompany agents on immigration operations. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander leading these operations, mentioned that it remains uncertain whether this participation will persist following the de-escalation of protests. “We are expecting a ramp-up,” he stated, referring to the national unrest under discussion, underscoring his particular concern for Los Angeles.
Later, a demonstration in the civic center of Los Angeles descended into chaos just before the city’s downtown curfew was implemented for a second night. Police in riot gear, most on horseback, advanced aggressively, using wooden rods to strike and disperse protesters. Officers also employed crowd control projectiles, resulting in injuries among demonstrators, including a young woman who was injured, lying in pain.
The causes of the confrontation were unclear, though preceding the clash, some activists had set off fireworks near a federal building, a recurrent protest site. Concurrently, a significant section of the protesters was absorbed in a dance party. Raymond Martinez recounted, “It was calm the entire time, with peaceful vibes and protests, until the horses arrived by the federal building.”
Amidst these tensions, mayors and city council members from the LA area urged the Trump administration to cease using armed military personnel in collaboration with immigration authorities. “You need to stop these raids,” pleaded Brenda Olmos, vice mayor of Paramount, narrating her experience of being hit by rubber bullets.
Supporting this stance, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass highlighted that these raids incite fear, driven by directives from the White House. The city, she noted, would maintain its curfew for the affected downtown area as deemed necessary, extending over a concentrated zone of protests within the sprawling city.
Caught in the widespread raids are asylum seekers, individuals who have overstayed their visas, and migrants awaiting immigration court hearings. The federal government justifies the military’s involvement, pointing to the protests for deploying troops. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom pushed for a federal court intervention to halt military support aiding immigration agents in Los Angeles. A judge scheduled a response hearing for Thursday.
The Trump administration criticized the lawsuit as a “political stunt” that purportedly risks public safety. Meanwhile, National Guard forces are edging closer to direct law enforcement activities, such as deportations, aligned with Trump’s stringent immigration enforcement agenda. The Guard’s role is primarily supportive, offering temporary detention, with formal arrests reserved for law enforcement.
On Truth Social, President Trump asserted that his intervention prevented LA from descending into chaos. Maj. Gen. Sharman cited that about 4,000 National Guard troops, with 700 Marines joining, would soon be operational in Los Angeles. Initially, he stated Guard troops had detained civilians during protests, based on mistaken observations of images and videos.
Law enforcement continued enacting the LA curfew by arresting over 20 individuals, mainly for curfew breaches, in addition to deploying crowd-control measures to disperse protestors. Since the protests commenced, almost 400 arrests have occurred, typically for defying police directives, police sources shared.
Across other U.S. cities, demonstrations burgeoned, with rallies taking place in places such as Dallas, Austin, and Chicago, resulting in additional detentions. New York City reported 86 arrests during lower Manhattan protests, primarily involving peaceful protesters. An incident in Chicago left a woman injured by a vehicle amid protests.
In Texas, authorities deployed chemical deterrents to curb demonstrators in Austin and placed National Guard troops on standby ahead of impending protests. The recent unrest initiated after immigration raids in Los Angeles led to the detainment of numerous workers.