California-USA, the city of Los Angeles remains on edge as protests over federal immigration enforcement have escalated into widespread unrest, prompting a controversial deployment of U.S. Marines and National Guard troops. The demonstrations, which began on 6 June, were initially peaceful but have since turned violent, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement intensifying across multiple districts.
Federal Response Sparks Outrage
President Donald Trump has defended his decision to send 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines into Los Angeles, arguing that the city was “under siege” and would have been “burning” without federal intervention. California Governor Gavin Newsom has fiercely opposed the move, filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration and calling the deployment “a blatant abuse of power.”
California will keep fighting on behalf of all our people including in the courts.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 11, 2025
If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe.
Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least… pic.twitter.com/7qXkrLopkc
California Governor Gavin Newsom
The protests erupted following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented migrants in workplaces and residential areas. Demonstrators, many carrying placards demanding the abolition of ICE, have blocked major roads, including the 101 Freeway, and engaged in confrontations with law enforcement.
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Scenes of Chaos in Downtown LA
In downtown Los Angeles, protesters have defaced buildings with graffiti, set fires, and thrown projectiles at police officers. Authorities have responded with tear gas, flash-bangs, and rubber bullets, leading to multiple injuries among demonstrators and journalists.
Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet while broadcasting live, visibly recoiling in pain before her segment was abruptly cut short. Meanwhile, CNN correspondent Jason Carroll was briefly detained by police while covering the protests, raising concerns about press freedom during the unrest.
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Political Fallout and National Implications
Governor Newsom has warned that the unrest in Los Angeles could spread nationwide, accusing the Trump administration of using federal forces to suppress dissent. “This is about all of us. Democracy is under assault before our eyes,” Newsom said in a televised address.
The protests have already spilled into other cities, with New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Philadelphia witnessing similar demonstrations. In New York, at least 45 people were arrested as thousands gathered near Foley Square, some waving Palestinian flags alongside anti-ICE banners.
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Curfew in Effect
As tensions continue to rise, city officials have enacted an overnight curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., hoping to curb further violence. Cleanup efforts are underway, but the damage—both physical and political—may take much longer to repair.