Tensions remain high across the United States following a wave of immigration enforcement actions led by the Trump administration, with demonstrations erupting in major cities. The largest unrest was triggered by a series of raids in Los Angeles and the subsequent deployment of National Guard troops to maintain order.
Protests Continue Amid Arrests and Curfews
In Los Angeles, the epicenter of the protests, the demonstrations have stretched into a fifth day. While most gatherings have remained peaceful and confined to limited city blocks, some escalated into confrontations with law enforcement. Protesters reportedly set vehicles on fire and defaced buildings. The Los Angeles County District Attorney has pressed charges against several individuals involved in acts of violence and vandalism.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the immigration raids, particularly those that targeted places of employment and community hubs. “When you raid Home Depot stores and workplaces, when you separate parents from their children, when armored vehicles roll through our neighborhoods, you are not protecting safety—you are spreading fear,” she said during a press conference.
Mayor Bass also took aim at those using the demonstrations as a cover for destruction. “Anyone engaging in violence, looting, or property damage is not standing for immigrant rights. They are undermining them, and they know that will provoke harsher government crackdowns,” she said.
A curfew was first imposed on Tuesday night and extended through Thursday morning at 6 a.m.
National Guard Deployed in Texas
Elsewhere, in anticipation of further protests, Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the state’s National Guard to San Antonio and Austin ahead of planned demonstrations this coming weekend.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Abbott stated, “Peaceful protest is legal. Harming people or property is not. It will lead to arrests. @TexasGuard will use all tools and strategies to help law enforcement maintain order.”
A National Showdown Looms
Saturday is expected to bring a new wave of protests nationwide, organized as part of “No Kings Day”—a coordinated campaign by progressive groups in response to what they describe as authoritarian measures under Trump’s second term. The timing coincides with a planned military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army—and also celebrating President Trump’s 79th birthday.
While the federal government defends the immigration raids as a matter of national security and law enforcement, critics warn that such actions are fueling unrest and deepening divisions in American society.
As more protests are expected in the coming days, cities across the U.S. remain on high alert, balancing the rights of demonstrators with growing concerns over public safety and property damage.
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