LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Tensions flared again in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday night as police carried out mass arrests during a citywide curfew, following days of protests sparked by the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration raids.

While the demonstrations began peacefully last Friday, they’ve since been marred by isolated incidents of looting and vandalism—prompting authorities to enforce overnight curfews and, more controversially, President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of troops to U.S. streets.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it had begun mass arrests of demonstrators violating the 8 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew in the city’s core, warning late Tuesday that “multiple groups” were still gathered downtown. LAPD reported at least 25 arrests by early evening, though that number is expected to rise.

Protesters have voiced anger over federal immigration sweeps in a city known for its large immigrant and Latino communities. Many say the unrest is less about the protests themselves and more about the federal response.

“They say it’s for safety,” one demonstrator told AFP. “But the peaceful protest isn’t the threat—it’s the militarized reaction that’s escalating things.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass defended the curfew, saying it was necessary “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.” Over two dozen businesses were looted overnight Monday, and more than 500 arrests have been made since the demonstrations began, according to LAPD.

In a rare and controversial move, President Trump has sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines into Los Angeles, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and local authorities. The troops are tasked with protecting federal buildings and assisting in immigration enforcement operations.

Critics, including legal experts, warn the move may violate longstanding U.S. laws restricting military involvement in domestic policing. “This is not how we protect democracy,” said Governor Newsom, who has filed a legal challenge in federal court to block the use of military forces for civilian control.

On Tuesday, Trump painted a grim picture from Fort Bragg in North Carolina, describing the situation in Los Angeles as “a full-blown assault on public order and sovereignty.”

“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy,” Trump said, referring to undocumented immigrants. His comments drew sharp criticism, with Newsom labeling the president’s rhetoric as that of “a tyrant, not a leader.”

The Pentagon confirmed that the military deployment will cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $134 million. Photos released by the Marine Corps showed troops rehearsing riot control drills with shields at a base in Seal Beach, California.

The protests in Los Angeles have inspired solidarity demonstrations in cities across the U.S., including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Austin. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state’s National Guard would also be deployed to maintain “peace and order.”

“Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal and will lead to arrest,” Abbott posted on X (formerly Twitter), signaling zero tolerance for any disruptions.

Despite the curfews and troop presence, life in Los Angeles carried on during daylight hours. Tourists wandered Hollywood Boulevard, schoolchildren returned to classrooms, and red carpets rolled out for film premieres. But beneath the surface, political and cultural tensions are clearly mounting.

As debates continue over immigration, policing, and presidential powers, the city of Los Angeles has once again become a national flashpoint. The clash between federal authority and local governance echoes deeper questions about the direction of American democracy—and whether public dissent will be met with dialogue or domination.


By WafricNews Desk.