Los Angeles police swiftly enforced a downtown curfew Tuesday night as protests against President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown continued for a second week. Moments after the curfew took effect, officers began making arrests, deploying mounted units and firing crowd control projectiles to disperse demonstrators.
The protest, which drew hundreds of people, remained largely peaceful until the curfew was enforced. National Guard troops stood on alert behind plastic shields but did not actively participate in the arrests.
While tensions briefly flared, the crowds began to thin out as the night progressed, with only sporadic confrontations reported. Officials defended the curfew as a necessary step to prevent vandalism and looting by opportunists exploiting the unrest.
Earlier in the day, California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the federal response, accusing President Trump of imposing a “military dragnet” on Los Angeles. Newsom condemned the presence of National Guard members and the deployment of Marines—none of whom were seen on the streets Tuesday—as an overreach that risks escalating tensions.
In a dramatic legal move, Newsom filed a court request seeking an emergency injunction to block the military from supporting federal immigration enforcement actions.
The request came amid reports that Guardsmen had begun providing protective support to federal agents during arrest operations. A federal judge scheduled a hearing for Thursday, leaving the administration with several days to continue the deployment.
Critics say the shift signals a dangerous move toward militarizing immigration enforcement, with Guard troops positioned closer to direct involvement in deportation actions—something Trump had promised as part of his immigration agenda.
Though the military personnel may temporarily detain individuals during violent incidents, all formal arrests remain the responsibility of law enforcement.
President Trump has activated over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines despite opposition from state and local leaders. Originally dispatched to safeguard federal properties, their expanded role has drawn sharp rebuke from civil liberties advocates.
Meanwhile, demonstrations have spread far beyond Los Angeles, with solidarity protests erupting in cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Austin.
In New York City alone, more than a thousand protesters rallied Tuesday night, resulting in multiple arrests.
As the standoff between state and federal authorities intensifies, both sides brace for further legal and political battles over the scope of presidential power and the future of immigration enforcement in America.
