Curfew imposed in parts of downtown L.A. amid protests

Los Angeles, June 10 — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has enacted a curfew for parts of downtown Los Angeles following four consecutive nights of volatile protests over immigration enforcement raids. The protests have led to widespread damage, confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, and growing political tension between California officials and the Trump administration.

Mayor Bass announced that the curfew would be in effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, targeting specific downtown areas where protests have escalated into vandalism and looting. “This curfew is to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President’s chaotic escalation,” Bass stated on social media, warning that anyone violating the curfew would face arrest and prosecution.

The protests, which erupted in response to intensified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, have triggered a sharp legal and political clash between state and federal authorities. California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against President Trump, opposing the deployment of federal troops in the city. Newsom accused Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of using the Marines and National Guard to bolster ICE operations.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to address the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Trump has doubled the National Guard presence in Los Angeles to 4,000 troops and dispatched 700 Marines, moves that are expected to cost taxpayers roughly $134 million, according to Pentagon estimates. Defending his decision on Truth Social, Trump asserted, “If we didn’t send out the National Guard — Los Angeles would be burning right now!”

Since Friday, clashes between protesters and law enforcement have resulted in over 150 arrests, with officers deploying pepper spray and flash bangs to control the crowds. Mayor Bass acknowledged that while the physical damage was confined to a small area of downtown, extensive graffiti has required significant cleanup efforts. The city is working swiftly to restore order, especially as it prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.

The escalating crisis reflects broader national tensions over immigration policy and federal authority, raising questions about the balance of power between states and Washington as protests continue to grip Los Angeles.