LA burns under Trump¡¯s orders: Immigration raids ignite protests, curfew, and military crackdown

The streets of Los Angeles have transformed into a hotbed of tension and resistance, as a second night of curfew was enforced on Wednesday following nearly a week of protest-fuelled chaos. The uproar stems from a wave of immigration raids across the city, a move initiated by US President Donald Trump that has triggered widespread panic and fury among residents.

LA protests: Los Angeles under curfew for second night with marines expected to be deployed ¨C latest updates https://t.co/76QYALdaU3

¡ª #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) June 12, 2025

LA plunges into unrest following Trump¡¯s immigration raids

Protests first erupted on Friday and have since spiralled into city-wide unrest, with almost 400 people arrested. Among them, 330 undocumented migrants were taken into custody, while others faced charges ranging from assault to attempted murder of a police officer. The protests are no longer just about immigration, they have become a flashpoint in a growing power struggle between federal and state authorities.

1/ ? Downtown LA remains under nightly curfew (8?PM¨C6?AM) for the 6th straight night.

Protests erupted over ICE operations. Law enforcement has responded with flash-bangs, rubber bullets, & mounted units. Arrests are rising fast. Here's a full update ?? pic.twitter.com/PGTkG1bVqL

¡ª The_Independent (@Rea_Independent) June 12, 2025

Mayor blames Donald Trump¡¯s ¡®chaotic escalation¡¯ for violence

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass laid the blame for the unrest squarely on President Trump, saying his immigration raids have ¡°provoked¡± the community and turned calm streets into war zones. She accused the administration of turning LA into a "national experiment" to test how far federal power can override local jurisdiction.

??Parts of LA under curfew for second night amid unrest over raids

A second overnight curfew has been enforced in downtown Los Angeles following days of protests triggered by US immigration raids. Police confirmed multiple arrests shortly after the curfew began at 20:00 local¡­ pic.twitter.com/daO5zLXEGk

¡ª tut0ugh (@tut0ugh) June 12, 2025

Bass justified the curfew as a means to stop what she called ¡°bad actors,¡± claiming the situation tipped into chaos following Friday's raids. On Tuesday night, law enforcement made ¡°mass arrests,¡± including individuals for firearm possession and violent assault on officers.

Military presence deepens fear and sparks legal debate

To control the spiralling unrest, the White House deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines across LA. Major General Scott Sherman confirmed that some of these troops are authorised to detain civilians until police can process arrests¡ªa controversial tactic that critics say blurs the line between military force and civil law enforcement.

President Trump has defended his decision, stating the troops were necessary to prevent the city from being ¡°conquered by a foreign enemy.¡± California Governor Gavin Newsom, however, fired back, branding the deployment an ¡°assault on democracy.¡±

Citywide crackdown continues as arrest numbers climb

Los Angeles police have reported over 200 people arrested for failure to disperse, with several others facing serious charges. As rubber bullets fly and riot shields block protest lines, the city remains locked in a standoff between federal ambition and local resistance.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell tried to reassure the public, saying the chaos was ¡°not a city-wide crisis,¡± but residents watching downtown LA under siege would likely disagree.