Chaos in Los Angeles: Protests Erupt Over ICE Raids

Los Angeles, CA – June 8, 2025

Tensions erupted into chaos Sunday evening as protesters clashed with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles, ignited by outrage over aggressive federal immigration sweeps.

Over the course of three days (June 6–8, 2025), downtown Los Angeles and surrounding communities—including Compton and Paramount—were rocked by widespread protests in response to aggressive ICE immigration raids and the unprecedented deployment of federal forces.

A striking image from the scene shows a man defiant waving a Mexican flag as smoke and flames billow from a burning vehicle, symbolizing the fierce resistance against the federal government’s immigration crackdown.

The National Guard was deployed to the city at the order of President Donald Trump, despite open opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the federal deployment “unlawful” and accused the administration of escalating tensions.

Protesters flooded the streets following reports of raids targeting immigrant communities, with chants, barricades, and burning debris turning the heart of L.A. into a flashpoint of national controversy.

Authorities have not confirmed the number of arrests or injuries as of press time, but videos circulating online show confrontations between armored troops and demonstrators, some of whom carried signs reading “No human is illegal” and “Stop the sweeps.”

🔥 Day 1 – June 6

• ICE conducted raids at multiple locations—including a clothing wholesaler, a Home Depot, and in the Fashion District—arresting roughly 100+ immigrants
• Protests promptly emerged, particularly near the Metropolitan Detention Center and the Westlake Home Depot.
• Demonstrators threw concrete, and police responded with stun grenades, tear gas, pepper spray, and declared a citywide tactical alert.
• Notable arrests included SEIU leader David Huerta, charged with impeding an officer and hospitalized after being injured.

🔥 Day 2 – June 7

• Protests intensified and spread to Paramount and Compton, with thousands gathering outside workplaces and federal buildings.
• President Trump invoked Title 10, deploying 2,000 National Guard troops (plus Marines on alert) to “protect federal property” — a rare move without the governor’s approval
• California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass strongly condemned the deployment as illegal and inflammatory.

🔥 Day 3 – June 8

• Crowds converged on the Metropolitan Detention Center, reaching “tinderbox” levels, per Mayor Bass.
• Protests shut down the 101 freeway; some demonstrators blocked the roadway, prompting police to use flash-bangs and arrests to disperse.
• A dramatic scene unfolded as Waymo self-driving cars had tires slashed, windows smashed, and three were set on fire—even electric scooters were thrown into the flames.
• Law enforcement—including LAPD, CHP, and federal officers—used tear gas, pepper balls, and less‑lethal munitions; at least 50 arrests occurred, with tens more detained in Compton/Paramount.
• Vandalism spread overnight: storefronts broken into, police cruisers pelted, graffiti tagged government buildings, and burned vehicles left a chaotic scene .

🏛️ Government Response & Wider Tensions

• Gov. Newsom vowed legal action, calling the federal Guard deployment unconstitutional and requesting its reversal.
• Mayor Bass called L.A. a “city under siege”, criticized the federal response, and urged peaceful protest.
• President Trump defended the actions, warning of further troop deployments and even mentioned the possibility of arresting state leaders like Newsom