Los Angeles, CA – June 8, 2025 – Downtown Los Angeles descended into turmoil on Saturday, June 7, 2025, as over 5,000 protesters flooded the streets to oppose a series of aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city. The massive demonstrations, centered near 1st and Alameda Streets and the Metropolitan Detention Center, overwhelmed the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which declared an unlawful assembly and resorted to less-than-lethal munitions to control the escalating unrest. Protesters, enraged by the federal immigration sweeps, hurled rocks, bottles, and other objects at law enforcement, intensifying a standoff that has drawn national attention.
The protests erupted in response to ICE operations that began on Friday, June 6, targeting businesses in the Garment District, Westlake District, and other areas with significant immigrant populations. Federal agents, supported by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), arrested at least 44 individuals, though some reports suggest the number could exceed 120. The heavy-handed tactics, including the use of flash-bang grenades and military-style vehicles, sparked outrage among community members and immigrant rights advocates, who accused ICE of sowing terror in Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods.
By Saturday evening, the demonstrations swelled to an estimated 5,000 protesters, with crowds blocking major intersections and surrounding federal buildings. Social media footage captured chaotic scenes of protesters throwing rocks, bottles, and fireworks at LAPD officers and federal agents, while some spray-painted anti-ICE graffiti on the Metropolitan Detention Center. A car was set ablaze in the nearby city of Paramount, and reports emerged of a police cruiser’s rear window being shattered by a large piece of concrete. The LAPD, declaring an unlawful assembly around 7:00 PM, authorized the use of less-than-lethal munitions, including rubber bullets, foam projectiles, and tear gas, to disperse the crowd. A citywide tactical alert was issued, requiring all officers to remain on duty to manage the escalating crisis.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the ICE raids, stating, “As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city.” She reiterated that the LAPD would not participate in immigration enforcement, a policy rooted in Los Angeles’ sanctuary city status. However, federal officials, including Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, sharply criticized Bass, accusing her of siding with “chaos and lawlessness.” Lyons claimed that over 1,000 protesters had attacked a federal building, alleging it took the LAPD two hours to respond to ICE’s calls for assistance.
The Trump administration escalated the situation by deploying approximately 300 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Sunday morning, far fewer than the 2,000 announced by President Trump, who described the protests as a “migrant invasion” and vowed to “liberate” the city. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the deployment “purposefully inflammatory,” urging protesters to remain peaceful and warning that violence would play into Trump’s narrative. Border Czar Tom Homan defended the National Guard’s presence, stating, “We are making Los Angeles safer. Mayor Bass should be thanking us.”
Community leaders and advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), condemned the raids and the use of force against protesters. Angelica Salas, CHIRLA’s executive director, stated, “If our constitutional rights are violated, then anybody’s rights can be violated. What’s happening in our country is unprecedented.” David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West, was among those detained during Friday’s protests, reportedly injured and later released after treatment.
The LAPD reported multiple detentions for failure to disperse, with at least one arrest for possession of a firearm and another individual sought for allegedly shooting a firework at a police helicopter. Despite the clashes, Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized, “We will protect your right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or destruction of property.” As of Sunday afternoon, protests continued near City Hall and the Metropolitan Detention Center, with a permitted rally scheduled and unpermitted demonstrations ongoing, raising fears of further confrontations.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol have increased their presence to manage traffic and crowd control, while federal authorities warned that anyone obstructing ICE operations would face prosecution. With tensions running high and the National Guard now on the ground, Los Angeles remains a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, as communities rally to protect their neighbors and resist what they call unjust federal policies.
