June 9, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles has become the epicenter of nationwide unrest as protests against aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids entered their fourth day on Monday, June 9, 2025.
The demonstrations, sparked by sweeping immigration operations targeting Latino and Indigenous communities, have led to violent clashes, arrests, and a controversial deployment of federal forces, including 4,700 National Guard troops and 700 Marines.
The situation has ignited a heated political feud between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, raising questions about the legality and motives behind the federal response.
The protests began on Friday, June 6, 2025, following ICE raids that detained 118 immigrants across Los Angeles, including 44 in a single day, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Raids targeted workplaces like Home Depot parking lots, garment district businesses, and restaurants, disproportionately affecting Latino and Indigenous populations, including Zapotec, Mixtec, and K’iche’ communities.
Community organizer Ron Gochez of Unión del Barrio described the raids as a “military-style” crackdown, with authorities using tear gas, flashbang grenades, and other “repressive instruments” to disperse crowds.
By Sunday, June 8, tensions escalated as protesters clashed with police and National Guard troops, who were deployed by President Trump to “restore order.”
Demonstrators set at least two Waymo self-driving cars on fire, spray-painted anti-ICE and anti-Trump graffiti, and threw rocks, bottles, and fireworks at law enforcement.
A total of 72 arrests were reported over the weekend, with an additional 10 on Sunday alone.
Federal Deployment Sparks Controversy
President Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops on June 7, followed by an additional 2,000 and 700 Marines on Monday, has drawn sharp criticism.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the federalization of the California National Guard “unlawful” and, alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit to challenge Trump’s actions.
Newsom accused the administration of escalating tensions for political gain, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass downplayed the protests as “not citywide civil unrest,” citing a specific incident involving just 100 people and 27 arrests.
Trump, however, defended the deployments, describing the protests as a “riot” and justifying the use of federal forces to ensure “law and order.”
He even threatened to arrest Newsom for obstructing ICE operations, a move the governor taunted as a “tough guy” tactic.
The involvement of reality TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw, who embedded with ICE agents during Friday’s raids for his Merit TV network, has further fueled accusations that the administration is sensationalizing the crackdown for media attention.
The raids have had a profound impact on Los Angeles’ diverse communities, home to nearly 50% Hispanic and Latino residents.
Activists, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), rallied on Monday to demand humane treatment for detainees and an end to the raids, which have swept up both undocumented immigrants and those with proper documentation.
One woman recounted her father being “kidnapped by ICE” in a raid she deemed illegal, emphasizing the lack of due process.
The arrest of David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California, during a raid last week, has become a rallying point.
Huerta, released on bond Monday after sustaining injuries during his arrest, condemned the raids as “devastating” to families.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., echoed these sentiments, holding signs reading “Free David” and “End ICE Raids.”
A Political Firestorm
The Los Angeles protests have exposed deep divisions over immigration policy. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, claimed on Fox News that ICE targeted “bad people,” including gang members and those with serious criminal convictions, but admitted to detaining non-criminals as well.
Critics, including Newsom and local Democratic leaders, argue the raids are politically motivated, targeting blue states like California while sparing Republican strongholds.
Senator Adam Schiff accused Trump of being “happy to see violent protests” to bolster his strongman image.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the clashes but avoided direct criticism of Trump, urging Mexican citizens in California to remain peaceful.
Meanwhile, the deployment of Marines without formal notification to the Los Angeles Police Department has raised logistical concerns, with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell calling it a “significant challenge.”
As protests continue, intelligence experts suggest some demonstrators may include “professional rioters” seeking confrontation, though community organizers insist the movement is driven by genuine outrage over ICE’s tactics.
The ACLU and other groups are planning further rallies, while California’s legal challenge against the National Guard deployment could set a precedent for state-federal conflicts.
With ICE planning more raids and Trump signaling potential troop deployments to other cities like Minneapolis and Chicago, the nation braces for further unrest.
For now, Los Angeles remains a flashpoint, where the clash between federal authority and local resistance is testing the limits of democracy and due process.
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