LOS ANGELES, USA — Mayor Karen Bass has declared a state of emergency and imposed a night-time curfew in parts of downtown Los Angeles as demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s immigration raids entered a fifth day, with tensions escalating across multiple U.S. cities.
The curfew, which took effect Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 8:00 p.m. PST to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2025, covers a one-square-mile area of central Los Angeles, where the protests have been most intense.
It comes after widespread reports of vandalism, looting, and confrontations with law enforcement.
“I have declared a local emergency and issued a curfew for downtown Los Angeles to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting,” Mayor Bass said in a briefing on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Nearly 200 people were arrested in the city the same day, as protestors clashed with police and National Guard units.
President Trump, defending his controversial immigration enforcement strategy, announced the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, describing the move as necessary to prevent what he called the city’s “conquest by a foreign enemy.”
The immigration raids that sparked the nationwide protests began on Friday and have continued amid growing opposition.
National Guard personnel have been dispatched to accompany and protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during enforcement operations.
Unrest has also flared in other major cities across the country:
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In Atlanta, riot police fired tear gas to disperse crowds after protesters launched fireworks at officers during a large-scale demonstration.
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In New York City, the NYPD confirmed dozens of arrests in Lower Manhattan after thousands marched into the area, blocking vehicular traffic.
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In San Antonio, Texas, Governor Greg Abbott ordered National Guard units into the city ahead of planned immigration rallies.
The White House has remained defiant in the face of growing criticism, with administration officials insisting the raids are lawful and necessary to protect national security.
Protesters and immigration advocates, however, argue that the raids disproportionately target vulnerable communities and are executed with excessive force.
The Los Angeles mayor’s emergency order is one of the most sweeping local measures taken in response to the demonstrations and reflects growing concern over the potential for further violence.
There has been no official indication of when the curfew might be lifted, as city officials continue to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, civil rights groups and legal observers have raised alarms over the heavy military presence and mass arrests, calling for restraint and renewed dialogue.
