Police declared all of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly zone Sunday night after a third straight day of increasingly volatile protests against President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration crackdown.
The demonstrations, initially peaceful, spiraled into chaos as protesters set cars ablaze—including several self-driving vehicles from Alphabet’s Waymo—and hurled projectiles at law enforcement.
Police responded with flash-bang grenades, tear gas, and mounted officers in a bid to control the unrest.
Authorities arrested at least 10 people Sunday and 29 the night before, as demonstrators blocked highways and clashed with police outside federal buildings. Video footage showed emotional scenes of protesters chanting “Shame on you!” while dodging rubber bullets and tear gas canisters.
Trump Deploys National Guard, Sparks Legal Showdown
In a move drawing fierce backlash from California officials, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the weekend. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the federal intervention as unlawful and politically charged, vowing legal action.
“This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted,” Newsom said in a post on X. “He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard… We’re suing him.”
The White House fired back, defending the deployment as necessary to quell “chaos, violence, and lawlessness.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Guard was there to protect federal buildings and ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators and law enforcement.
A City on Edge
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell acknowledged citizens’ right to protest but condemned the growing violence as “disgusting” and “out of control.”
Asked about the potential need for more military support, McDonnell said, “Looking at the violence tonight, I think we’ve got to make a reassessment.”
Trump, meanwhile, urged immediate escalation. “Don’t let these thugs get away with this,” he posted. “Make America great again!!!”
Immigration Crackdown at the Center
The unrest is being fueled by the Trump administration’s aggressive new immigration enforcement policy. ICE has reportedly been ordered to arrest at least 3,000 undocumented migrants per day, a number that has triggered backlash even from within the legal immigration community.
Critics accuse Trump of using heavy-handed federal tactics to provoke unrest for political gain, while the administration frames the protests as lawless insurrections that justify its crackdown.
Federal Forces on Alert
As of Sunday, U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 300 California National Guard members had been deployed to three locations in the city. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that active-duty troops—including Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton—are on standby should conditions further deteriorate.
Despite the president’s rhetoric, he has not yet invoked the 1807 Insurrection Act, which would authorize full military intervention. When asked if he would, Trump replied: “It depends on whether or not there’s an insurrection.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized both violent protesters and the federal response, warning residents not to be “drawn into the chaos I believe is being created by the administration.”
Stay with Uzalendo News for continuing coverage on the protests, legal challenges, and the growing political showdown in California.
