Los Angeles remains under curfew for a second consecutive night following nearly a week of unrest ignited by aggressive U.S. immigration raids. Police imposed an overnight curfew in a one-square-mile section of downtown, arresting several individuals shortly after it took effect at 8:00 p.m. local time.
So far, nearly 400 people have been detained, including 330 undocumented migrants. Among others arrested were individuals charged with assault, obstruction, and even attempted murder of a police officer. Two men face federal charges for hurling Molotov cocktails at officers.
The federal response has been forceful. Over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have been deployed to assist in crowd control, with some troops authorized to detain protesters until police arrive. Mayor Karen Bass defended the curfew, calling it a necessary move to halt looting and violence fueled by what she described as the president’s “chaotic escalation.”
Bass directly blamed President Donald Trump for provoking the crisis with sweeping immigration raids that sowed “fear and panic” among communities. She warned that Los Angeles is being used as a test case for federal overreach.
Tuesday night saw mass arrests after continued protests across the city. Police detained over 200 people for failure to disperse, and several others for violating curfew, carrying firearms, or assaulting officers. Two law enforcement officers were injured during confrontations.
Despite the military’s limited authority to make arrests, National Guard troops have been assisting with detentions during protests and immigration operations. Major General Scott Sherman confirmed that some troops have been trained specifically to support these raids.
The White House has defended the crackdown. Trump described the unrest as “a full-blown assault on peace and public order” and vowed to “use every asset at our disposal.” He accused California officials of failing to maintain control, while Governor Gavin Newsom responded by calling the federal intervention “a brazen abuse of power” and a direct threat to democracy.
The Pentagon revealed the military deployment will cost approximately $134 million. Trump, who has made mass deportations a central theme of his re-election campaign, has set a target of 3,000 arrests per day by immigration officers.
With tensions still high, officials in both Washington and California are bracing for continued clashes — and possibly more protests in other states.