California Highway Patrol officers and protesters faced off in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, during a heated moment in the ongoing demonstrations. AP Photo
City officials in Los Angeles declared a local emergency Tuesday and imposed a downtown curfew after five days of growing protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The protests began after immigration agents arrested dozens of workers last Friday, sparking outrage across the city.
Mayor Karen Bass announced the curfew will last from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. It covers a one-square-mile area in downtown, where most of the protests have taken place. The curfew does not affect residents, the homeless, reporters, or emergency workers.
Bass said the city had reached a breaking point after 23 businesses were looted. Police Chief Jim McDonnell explained that the order was needed to protect public safety and property.
National Guard Presence Sparks Legal Fight
Tensions rose as the federal government sent over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to support immigration officers. California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed this move. He took legal action to stop the military from working alongside immigration agents. He warned that the move would only make the situation worse.
Governor Gavin Newsom gave a speech on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, sharing his thoughts and concerns with the public. AP Photo
A judge did not immediately block the military’s role, allowing time for further court discussions. Newsom said Trump's actions felt like a military operation aimed at the people. He urged residents to speak out and avoid staying silent.
Street Clashes and Arrests
On Tuesday night, protesters clashed with California Highway Patrol officers in downtown Los Angeles. Police helicopters flew overhead, ordering crowds to leave. Mounted police and officers on foot moved in to break up the protests. Some protesters scattered, while others refused to leave.
Police made 197 arrests that day. Most people were arrested for refusing to leave after curfew. A few were taken in for more serious offenses like looting, vandalism, assault, or even tossing a Molotov cocktail. Seven police officers were injured. Two were taken to the hospital and later released.
Protests Spread Across the U.S.
Demonstrations weren’t limited to Los Angeles. Large protests also took place in cities like New York, Dallas, Austin, and Chicago. In Texas, officials placed the National Guard on standby. In San Antonio, Guard members were already deployed, though police provided no further details.
Members of the California National Guard stood watch outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. AP Photo
Schools and Businesses Feel the Impact
The ongoing enforcement activity continued even as protests raged. Immigration officers were spotted across the county, including at libraries, car washes, and stores. In response, some schools increased security during graduation ceremonies and gave families the option to watch online instead of attending.
Trump’s Response Raises Concerns
President Trump hinted he may invoke the Insurrection Act. This law lets him send military forces to handle domestic unrest. He referred to the protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy” during a speech.
Governor Newsom warned that California may be the first state to face such action, but likely won’t be the last. He called on Americans to resist Trump’s approach and protect democracy.
