Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets, and Clashes as Immigration Crackdown Triggers Citywide Unrest
Los Angeles, USA – Massive protests engulfed Los Angeles on Sunday as public outrage intensified over the Trump administration’s immigration raids and the controversial deployment of National Guard troops without state approval.
What began as peaceful demonstrations against immigration enforcement turned into chaotic scenes across the city. Protesters clashed with law enforcement near the Metropolitan Detention Center, vehicles were set ablaze, and highways were blocked as hundreds voiced their anger and fear over the federal actions.
Clashes Escalate in the Heart of Los Angeles
On the third day of protests, approximately 300 National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles, sparking widespread condemnation. Protesters gathered in downtown areas, chanting slogans such as “Shame!” and “Go home!” at the armed guards stationed with riot shields.
As tensions flared, law enforcement officers threw smoke canisters and fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators who resisted moved toward the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic and prompting a stronger police response. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) later reported several arrests in the Civic Center area.
Political Leaders Condemn Federal Action
California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the deployment, calling it “unlawful” and an “abuse of power.” In a letter to President Trump, Newsom demanded the immediate withdrawal of troops, warning that their presence was further inflaming an already volatile situation.
“Instead of calming the city, this move has escalated fears and chaos,” Newsom wrote. Other Democratic leaders echoed his sentiments, labeling the deployment as a dangerous precedent that undermines state authority.
President Trump, however, defended his decision, accusing California leaders of failing to contain anti-immigration protests and claiming that federal intervention was essential to restore law and order.
Immigration Crackdown at the Center of the Crisis
The protests were triggered by recent immigration raids across Los Angeles that resulted in multiple detentions. Activists and civil rights groups have criticized the raids as inhumane and unconstitutional, especially given the use of aggressive federal enforcement without local support.
With the situation in Los Angeles growing more intense by the hour, civil society organizations, religious groups, and international observers are calling for calm, urging both sides to de-escalate and return to dialogue.
