- President Trump says National Guard and U.S. Marines will remain in L.A. until protests are no longer deemed dangerous.
- Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew in downtown Los Angeles following vandalism and looting during immigration protests.
- LAPD initiated mass arrests after curfew violations; at least 25 arrested by Tuesday night.
- Protests erupted following increased ICE operations targeting immigrant communities.
- California officials accuse Trump of overreach and inflaming tensions by deploying federal troops.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, vowing they would stay “until there’s no danger” amid escalating immigration-related protests across the city.
“When there’s no danger, they’ll leave,” Trump told reporters during remarks in the Oval Office. “You would have had a horrible situation had I not sent them in.” The president asserted that without federal military presence, “Los Angeles would be burning right now.”
The deployment included 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, sent to assist local authorities in response to demonstrations triggered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that intensified last week.
City Enacts Curfew After Days of Unrest
On the same day, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a curfew for downtown Los Angeles from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The curfew applies to a 1-square-mile area in the city’s central district.
“I issued a curfew starting tonight at 8 p.m. for Downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President’s chaotic escalation,” Bass said on social media. “If you do not live or work in Downtown L.A., avoid the area.”
Los Angeles police began making arrests Tuesday night after protesters defied the curfew, according to the Los Angeles Times. By the evening, at least 25 people had been detained for curfew violations, and LAPD warned that number would likely rise as officers continued dispersing crowds.
Immigration Raids Spark Protests
The protests, now entering their sixth day, erupted after federal immigration authorities increased arrest operations across Los Angeles. Demonstrations have remained largely peaceful but have occasionally descended into looting and vandalism, especially during late-night hours.
Mayor Bass criticized the federal crackdown, writing in a separate post that the Trump administration’s promise to target violent offenders was contradicted by actions such as raiding a Home Depot store and detaining families. “That does not make Los Angeles more safe,” she said.
State Leaders Push Back
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply rebuked Trump’s use of the military in the state, saying the president acted unilaterally and without the consent of California leadership.
In one of several posts, Newsom declared: “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes… The rule of law has increasingly given way to the rule of Don.”
What’s Next
As Los Angeles continues to experience unrest, city and state officials remain at odds with the federal government. Legal challenges are expected to follow, with civil rights advocates and local lawmakers preparing to challenge Trump’s federalization of the National Guard in court.
Meanwhile, National Guard troops remain visible across the city, and LAPD continues enforcing the curfew and crowd control measures. The situation remains fluid, with additional developments expected in the coming days.
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