LOS ANGELES. Dozens of mayors and city officials from across the Los Angeles region joined forces on Wednesday to call on the Trump administration to stop the intensified immigration raids that have fueled fear in immigrant communities and triggered widespread protests across the country.
Despite their plea, there was no indication that President Donald Trump would reverse course. About 500 National Guard troops deployed to monitor protests in the city have also been trained to assist in immigration operations, according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman. Some have already participated in such missions.
“We are expecting a ramp-up,” Sherman said, noting the growing concern over ongoing protests. “I’m focused right here in LA, what’s going on right here. But you know, I think we’re very concerned.”
Tensions escalated Wednesday evening at a demonstration near the LA Civic Center. What began as a peaceful protest quickly turned chaotic as police officers in riot gear — some on horseback — charged into a crowd, striking demonstrators with wooden rods and firing crowd-control projectiles. One young woman was seen writhing on the ground, bleeding from the hip after being hit.
“It was chill the whole time, it was cool vibes, peaceful protesting,” said protester Raymond Martinez. “Once we got by the federal building the horses started coming.”
At a press conference earlier in the day, Paramount Vice Mayor Brenda Olmos, who was reportedly hit by rubber bullets during the weekend, made an emotional appeal: “I’m asking you, please listen to me, stop terrorizing our residents. You need to stop these raids.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed that message, saying the raids are instilling fear “at the behest of the White House.” The city has imposed a nightly curfew in a 1-square-mile area of downtown where protests are concentrated. She warned the curfew would likely continue if military operations and immigration raids persist.
Caught in the raids are asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and undocumented migrants awaiting court hearings.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has asked a federal court to halt the deployment of military forces in support of immigration operations. A hearing is set for Thursday. The Trump administration dismissed the lawsuit as a “crass political stunt endangering American lives.”
Currently, some 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in Los Angeles, with 2,000 more and around 700 Marines expected to join them soon. Although the Guard can temporarily detain civilians who attack officers, actual arrests are to be carried out by law enforcement.
President Trump defended the military deployment in a post on Truth Social, claiming the city “would be burning to the ground” without it.
Since the start of the unrest, Los Angeles police have made nearly 400 arrests, mostly for curfew violations. More serious charges include assault on officers and possession of weapons like Molotov cocktails. Nine officers have been injured.
The protests, which erupted after federal agents arrested dozens of workers in LA immigration raids last Friday, have spread to other major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Austin.
In New York City, 86 people were arrested during protests in Lower Manhattan. In Chicago, a 66-year-old woman was injured after being struck by a vehicle during a demonstration. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, police used chemical agents to disperse crowds, and National Guard troops were placed on standby.
Despite the continued presence of military forces, calls from local leaders to halt immigration raids grow louder as community tensions remain high.\
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
