For the third consecutive day, downtown Los Angeles erupted into chaos as immigration protests escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with officers directly targeted. What started as a protest against ICE raids and President Trump’s National Guard deployment quickly spiraled into something far more dangerous.
On Sunday, protesters flooded city streets, even taking control of the 101 Freeway, where they targeted California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles and reportedly attempted to set them on fire.
The situation became even more alarming when demonstrators fired commercial-grade fireworks directly at LAPD officers, which LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell warned could be deadly. He emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Tonight we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers that can kill you.”
The violence continued to escalate, with a small fire breaking out behind an LAPD skirmish line, highlighting the growing volatility. Protesters were seen throwing objects, using makeshift shields, and, in one instance, allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail. Another individual was accused of ramming a police line with a motorcycle.
By the end of the day, 27 people had been arrested — 10 by LAPD and 17 by CHP — with authorities expecting further unrest.
LAPD Chief McDonnell expressed his disgust during a press conference, condemning the hijacking of peaceful protests by outsiders who came with the intent to cause harm and chaos. “It was even more disgusting that many of the people who are doing this come in from other places just to hurt people and to cause havoc,” he said.
City officials are now considering the imposition of a curfew, with discussions ongoing between McDonnell and the L.A. County Sheriff. The situation is being closely monitored to determine whether further action is needed.
California Governor Gavin Newsom continued his strong criticism of President Trump, accusing the White House of fueling tensions in Southern California. Newsom called Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the state “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would only make matters worse. “This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom stated.
The protests began on Friday after federal immigration agents detained at least 44 individuals as part of Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown, which has sparked similar raids and deportations across the country.