Nearly 400 arrested in Los Angeles immigration protests

IANS June 12, 2025 388 views

Mass immigration protests erupted across multiple US cities, with Los Angeles experiencing the most significant unrest. Nearly 400 people were arrested during demonstrations challenging federal immigration policies. Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew to control escalating tensions and prevent further vandalism. The protests reflect growing nationwide opposition to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategies.

"We've imposed a limited curfew in response to looting and vandalism" - Mayor Karen Bass
Los Angeles, June 12: Nearly 400 people in immigration protests have been arrested or detained by the Los Angeles Police Department since Saturday, media reports said.

Key Points

1

Nationwide protests target Trump's immigration crackdown

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330 undocumented migrants detained in LA

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Demonstrations spread to over two dozen cities

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Curfew implemented in downtown Los Angeles

The arrested and detained include 330 undocumented migrants and 157 people arrested for assault and obstruction, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the BBC News.

On the first night of curfew starting Tuesday night in the US second largest city, there were 203 arrests for failure to disperse and 17 arrests for curfew violation, said the Los Angeles Police Department in a press release.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday evening the curfew for parts of downtown Los Angeles that started from 8:00 p.m. Tuesday (local time) to 6:00 a.m. (local time) Wednesday local time.

She noted that local authorities imposed the limited curfew in response to looting and vandalism that occurred downtown Monday night, following largely peaceful daytime protests.

Masked looters targeted several businesses, including an Apple Store, where they smashed windows and made away with electronic products. They also defaced the building with graffiti.

Other businesses hit included Adidas outlets, pharmacies, marijuana dispensaries, and jewellery stores. Videos circulating online show widespread vandalism, with shelves emptied and storefronts damaged.

Law enforcement responded with arrests as the chaos intensified. The Los Angeles Police Department was stretched thin in the face of the unrest.

US President Donald Trump has dispatched over 4,000 National Guard troops and about 700 active-duty Marines to the Los Angeles area despite the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom and other local officials.

The President cited an "assault on peace and public order" and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used federal law, to crack down on protesters.

Demonstrations against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown have intensified and spread far beyond Los Angeles, with thousands of people gathering in at least two dozen cities, US media reported.

In Los Angeles, protesters briefly blocked traffic on the 101 Freeway, while in Chicago, large crowds marched through several main arteries of the downtown Loop, briefly halting traffic. Police helicopters hovered overhead as demonstrators walked among stalled buses, and one Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus had been tagged with anti-police and anti-ICE (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency) graffiti. The Chicago Tribune reported no immediate arrests.

Similar scenes unfolded in New York, where blocks of demonstrators marched from Lower Manhattan, near the federal immigration building, while in Atlanta, some 1,000 demonstrators lined Buford Highway, with several hundred later marching into Doraville, prompting an immediate standoff with local police.

Elsewhere, protests rippled across San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Washington, with varying degrees of police presence and tension.

Reader Comments

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Rajesh K.
While peaceful protests are democratic rights, looting and vandalism cross the line. America lectures others about human rights but can't handle its own immigration issues properly. Karma? 🤔
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Priya M.
This reminds me of our own CAA protests last year. The difference is our police showed more restraint. Sending troops seems excessive - will only escalate tensions further.
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Amit S.
America's hypocrisy is showing! They criticize other countries for strong border policies but deploy military when their own citizens protest. Maybe now they'll understand why border security matters.
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Sunita R.
Sad to see violence overshadowing the real issue. Undocumented migrants deserve dignity, but destroying local businesses hurts the very communities that often support them. Two wrongs don't make a right.
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Vikram J.
The world is watching how America handles this. If they can't manage peaceful protests without military, what moral authority do they have to comment on Hong Kong or Kashmir? Double standards much?
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Neha T.
Interesting to see US struggling with same issues we face - balancing security and human rights. Maybe we can all learn from each other instead of pointing fingers. Peaceful solutions needed everywhere 🌍

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Tags:
Immigration Protests Los Angeles Arrests Donald Trump Karen Bass National Guard Immigration Policy Protests