LA Police Declare Downtown an "Unlawful Assembly" Amid Escalating Immigration Protests
On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Police Department officially declared downtown Los Angeles an “unlawful assembly.” Officers ordered thousands of immigration protesters to disperse after three consecutive days of escalating confrontation over federal immigration raids.
What began as peaceful demonstrations against ICE sweeps intensified as a subset of protesters hurled projectiles — including bottles, rocks, and concrete — at police. In response, law enforcement employed tear gas, flashbangs, and other “less-lethal” tactics to restore order .
Clashes extended to the city’s streets and infrastructure. Flares set ablaze dumpsters and self-driving Waymo vehicles, sending plumes of thick smoke into the air. A dramatic image of a masked protester waving a Mexican flag amid burning debris became emblematic of the tension .
While the LAPD led the operation, federal authorities positioned approximately 300 National Guard troops around critical federal facilities. Meanwhile, U.S. Marines were prepared to deploy from nearby bases to protect federal property—pending possible further unrest.
Governor Gavin Newsom promptly denounced the federal deployment, calling it an “unlawful federalization” of state resources. He announced legal action to prevent the use of California’s National Guard and Marines without state consent .
Senior Trump administration officials defended the escalation, characterizing the demonstrations as violent. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged intensifying immigration enforcement efforts, promising to escalate raids in reaction to public disorder .
The unrest in Los Angeles has reverberated across the United States. Similar protests flared in at least nine other cities, including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Austin—where law enforcement also used non-lethal crowd-control measures.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell stressed the right to peaceful protest but condemned violent disruption. “Violence by a vocal fringe is unacceptable,” he said, warning that authorities “won’t tolerate threats against our officers or public safety”.
