Tensions boiled over in downtown Los Angeles Friday evening as riot police confronted protesters following a daylong wave of federal immigration raids. Dozens were reportedly taken into custody during the latest phase of President Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.
Helmeted LAPD officers in riot gear lined city streets, responding with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang rounds after protesters threw broken concrete and refused to disperse. An unlawful assembly was declared, putting anyone remaining at risk of arrest. The LAPD confirmed it was not involved in the raids but was dispatched to manage escalating civil unrest.
ICE agents targeted several locations across Los Angeles, including a Home Depot in the Westlake District, a Fashion District apparel store, and a South L.A. warehouse. Caravans of unmarked federal vehicles loaded with agents were seen throughout the city as part of the coordinated enforcement operation.
Demonstrations began earlier in the day and intensified outside a federal courthouse and nearby jail where detainees were believed to be held. Protesters spray-painted anti-ICE slogans and demanded the release of those taken into custody.
Among those detained was David Huerta, president of SEIU California. The union claims Huerta was injured and arrested while documenting the raid, asserting his First Amendment rights. ICE has not responded to requests for comment on Huerta’s arrest or the extent of his injuries.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the immigration enforcement efforts, stating that the raids “sow terror” and undermine public safety. Her statement aligns with other Democrat leaders who oppose the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
This operation is part of a broader national push by President Trump to escalate deportations and assert federal immigration authority in sanctuary cities. The White House has defended the strategy as necessary to secure the border and uphold the rule of law.
