Los Angeles, June 11 (V7N) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has declared a local state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew in downtown Los Angeles following several days of unrest sparked by growing opposition to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, Mayor Bass said, “I have declared a local state of emergency. A curfew has been imposed in the city's main commercial area to prevent vandalism and looting.” French news agency AFP first reported the development.
According to Reuters, Mayor Bass indicated that the curfew could remain in effect for several days, depending on the evolving situation.
The protests initially erupted in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants. In an effort to regain control of the streets, authorities first deployed the National Guard and later called in the Marines. Despite these measures, demonstrations have intensified and are now spreading beyond Los Angeles to cities including Seattle, Austin, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Protesters, carrying placards denouncing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), blocked roads around key government buildings while chanting slogans against the administration’s immigration policies. While many protests have remained peaceful, violent confrontations with law enforcement have been reported. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, and several arrests were made across multiple cities.
The unrest is quickly escalating nationwide, with protests emerging in New York, San Francisco, and Santa Ana. Tensions flared further following a series of anti-immigration raids that triggered clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officials.
Activists have announced larger nationwide demonstrations in the coming days, including the "No Kings" protest scheduled for Saturday, coinciding with President Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the federal government’s actions in strong terms on Tuesday. “Trump has cast a military net over Los Angeles,” Newsom said, criticizing the deployment of around 5,000 federal troops to the city. Originally tasked with protecting federal facilities, these forces are now reportedly aiding in immigration enforcement operations.
Governor Newsom further accused the Trump administration of targeting not only undocumented criminals but also vulnerable members of immigrant communities, including janitors, gardeners, construction workers, and seamstresses.
As protests grow and the federal response intensifies, the coming days are expected to test both local and national leadership amid escalating public anger over immigration enforcement policies.
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