Trump said that California officials who work against the ongoing deportations could face federal charges.
Thousands of protesters have blocked off a major freeway in Los Angeles and set several self-driving taxis on fire as police try to control the crowd as anti-ICE protests continued into a third night.
The protests and riots began on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested dozens of illegal immigrants in the city as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation.
As darkness fell on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Police Department wrote on the social media platform X, “An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY for the area of the Civic Center part of Los Angeles has been declared. Those with cell phones in the area of the Civic Center have received the alert.”
An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY for the area of the Civic Center part of Los Angeles has been declared. Those with Cell Phones in the area of the Civic Center have received the alert.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 9, 2025
Police officers then tried to move in to disperse the crowd.
Rocks, fireworks, and electric scooters were hurled at California Highway Patrol officers from behind a makeshift barrier. Officers were forced to take cover in an overpass near the southbound 101 Freeway, which has been closed.
Dozens of people were arrested during the weekend, including a rioter who threw a Molotov cocktail at the police, and another individual who tried to ram a police line with a motorcycle.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said his officers had been overwhelmed.
He said the crowd included agitators who often show up at demonstrations just to cause trouble.
Trump wrote on the social platform Truth Social, “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”
In another post, he wrote, “ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!”
The National Guard has been deployed in Los Angeles, specifically to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated.
Earlier, U.S. Northern Command said about 500 Marines were on standby to deploy to Los Angeles.
In addition to approximately 300 National Guardsmen, NORTHCOM said in a press release, “approximately 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, are in a prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD’s protection of federal property and personnel efforts.”
By Jack Phillips and Joseph Lord
