Mass protests have erupted across Los Angeles following a wave of aggressive ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants. The unrest has sparked citywide outrage, drawing national attention and political backlash.
What is happening ?
Since June 6, 2025, mass protests and civil unrest have erupted in Los Angeles around violence toward undocumented immigrants sparked by a line of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Many advocates have called the ICE raids military-style operations. Outrage has become protests throughout the city as some of these gatherings have spiraled into violence, marked by clashes with law enforcement, property destruction, and significant disruptions. While unearthing an enormous tension around immigration policy, the unrest has also provoked a political stalemate between the Trump administration and the Newsom state administration in California. This report is a complete analysis of the events occurred here, the triggers, responses, and implications of this chaotic moment.
Sanctuary City Tensions: LA’s Immigration Roots and Rising Risks
In November 2024, shortly after President Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris, Los Angeles took a stand by declaring itself a sanctuary city. Given its substantial Hispanic and foreign-born population, this decision carried particular weight amid growing unease about Trump’s tough immigration stance. By May 2025, the administration had shifted its focus to workplace deportation operations, a clear sign of its intensifying enforcement efforts. These moves laid the groundwork for the chaos that erupted in June, as federal authorities zeroed in on sanctuary cities—Los Angeles chief among them.
ICE Raids Trigger Uprising: Inside the June 6 Los Angeles Sweep
The protests kicked off almost instantly following ICE raids on June 6, 2025, which swept through Los Angeles, hitting spots like the lively Fashion District, a clothing wholesaler, and even outside a Home Depot where undocumented immigrants often seek day work. Over 100 people were arrested, with reports confirming 118 detentions by June 7. Immigrant rights advocates decried the raids as oppressive, likening them to paramilitary assaults, and their outrage quickly rallied local communities and organizations. At its core, the movement aims to halt mass deportations, with demonstrators resorting to everything from peaceful marches to acts of civil disobedience, rioting, and even arson.
Protest Timeline: From Raids to Riots in Just Four Days
The unrest unfolded with striking speed over a matter of days, each marked by escalating encounters between protesters and police:
- June 6, 2025: ICE raids swept across Los Angeles, netting over 100 arrests. By 7 p.m., roughly 200 protesters had taken to the streets, clashing with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Officers countered with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang grenades to break up the crowds. Demonstrators blocked roads and carried out minor vandalism in response.
- June 7, 2025: The next day, unrest spilled into Paramount and Compton, drawing an estimated 1,000 participants. Streets were barricaded, Molotov cocktails flew, and a gas station in Paramount was looted. Authorities reported 27 arrests, six injuries, one wounded ICE agent, and an Australian reporter hurt in the fray. That same day, President Trump federalized the California National Guard, sending 2,000 troops to Los Angeles and placing 500 Marines on standby.
- June 8, 2025: Protests pressed on, with 300 National Guard troops fanning out across Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton. Demonstrators shut down the 101 Freeway, torched Waymo autonomous vehicles, and rallied outside City Hall under the banner of groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). Clashes left two LAPD officers injured and prompted several arrests. An Australian Nine News reporter took a rubber bullet during the tumult.
- June 9, 2025: As of the latest reports, the protests showed no signs of fading, with downtown Los Angeles labeled an unlawful assembly. Law enforcement leaned on flash-bangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets to keep the swelling crowds in check.
Trump Sends National Guard: Federal Force Meets Local Fury
The Trump administration wasted no time in addressing the unrest. On June 7, President Trump made the bold call to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles under Title 10, sidestepping state control—a rare step not taken since 1965. Federal officials also hinted at legal repercussions for California leaders accused of abetting illegal activities, with Border Czar Tom Homan issuing stern warnings about arrests for obstructing law enforcement. While Trump hasn’t dismissed the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act, he noted that the protests haven’t yet crossed that line. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem doubled down, vowing that ICE operations would persist, with prosecutions awaiting anyone who attacks officers.
Newsom vs. Trump: A Legal Clash Over Immigration Control
The arrival of the National Guard has done little to calm the storm—instead, it’s stoked a fierce clash between California’s leadership and the federal government. Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the deployment as both illegal and provocative, insisting that local police were equipped to handle the situation. Mayor Karen Bass chimed in, calling for peaceful protest while blasting the raids for sowing fear and chaos in communities. Newsom pledged to take the Trump administration to court, spotlighting a larger battle over state versus federal power in immigration matters. Adding to the friction, the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have distanced themselves from the raids, making it clear they’re not part of the federal effort.
Street Resistance: From Peaceful Marches to Violent Outbursts
Protesters have thrown themselves into a wide array of actions, blending calculated resistance with bursts of raw anger:
- Blocking Streets and Freeways: They’ve repeatedly shut down key routes like the 101 Freeway, snarling traffic to amplify their message.
- Arson and Vandalism: Vehicles—including Waymo taxis—and piles of debris have gone up in flames, with notable flare-ups in downtown Los Angeles and Compton. Businesses, like a doughnut shop in Compton, haven’t escaped the damage.
- Looting: A gas station in Paramount fell victim to looters on June 7.
- Symbolic Acts: Some have burned U.S. flags and hoisted Mexican ones in defiance, gestures that have come to define their stance. A masked protester on a motorcycle, waving a Mexican flag, has emerged as an enduring image of the unrest. These moves have split opinions sharply—some see them as valid cries of defiance, while others decry them as reckless threats to public order.
Who’s Behind the Protests? Accusations of Coordination and Influence
Amid the upheaval, whispers of a more orchestrated effort have begun to circulate, though they’re far from settled. Some point fingers at groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) as potential masterminds. CHIRLA reportedly pulled in nearly $34 million in California government grants for the fiscal year ending June 2023, though its DHS funding dried up in March 2025. Meanwhile, PSL has been tied to millions from individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party, fueling speculation about outside meddling. These claims stir controversy but lack solid backing from impartial sources, so they demand a cautious approach.
| Organization | Reported Funding Source | Amount | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIRLA | California government grants | ~$34 million | Fiscal year ending June 2023 |
| CHIRLA | DHS grants (terminated) | ~$450,000 | Oct 2021 – Sep 2024 |
| PSL | Neville Singham, Jodie Evans | Millions | Post-2017 |
Is the National Guard Helping? Unrest Persists Despite Deployment
Even with 2,000 National Guard troops dispatched—and 300 actively in place by June 8—the protests have barreled into June 9, 2025, undeterred. Skirmishes with law enforcement, punctuated by tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs, paint a picture of a city still teetering on edge. Freeway blockades, vandalism, and arrests persist, casting doubt on whether federal intervention is working. Some argue that the troops’ presence might be pouring fuel on the fire, especially considering how seldom such measures are rolled out historically.
Key Questions: Authority, Misinformation, and Protest Fallout
This unrest raises a handful of pressing issues worth wrestling with:
- Necessity of Federal Troops: Does the National Guard’s deployment fit the crisis, or is it just fanning the flames in an already tense Los Angeles?
- State vs. Federal Authority: The showdown between Newsom and Trump underscores a bigger tug-of-war over immigration control. Can California hold its ground against federal moves in court?
- Funding Allegations: The talk of outside funding is intriguing, but without neutral confirmation, it’s hard to say what’s real. Are these claims solid, or just political ammunition?
- Impact of Misinformation: How much have rumors—like false tales of more raids—amped up the protests’ scale and fervor?
Conclusion
The protests gripping Los Angeles this June go beyond a mere backlash to ICE raids—they’re a tangled knot of immigration policy, federal-state friction, and raw public outcry. The raids, part of a wider federal push, have set off a firestorm in a city fiercely proud of its immigrant roots. Sending in the National Guard was meant to restore calm, but it’s only widened the rift, with California’s leaders decrying it as federal overreach. From peaceful marches to fiery outbursts, the protesters’ actions reveal both careful planning and pent-up rage. As this chapter unfolds, the clash of policy, power, and people will keep shaping the story, with ripples felt far beyond Los Angeles.
Key Citations :
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1kv1lgdpkjo
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMx7fco3sTk
- https://www.wvnstv.com/news/national-news/trump-orders-national-guard-to-los-angeles-amid-fiery-ice-protests/
- https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2025/06/after-tear-gas-and-street-fires-a-los-angeles-community-cleans-up-as-national-guard-troops-arrive/
- https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/trending/national-guard-troops-arrive-in-los-angeles-on-trumps-orders-to-quell-immi/
