A series of immigration raids conducted by federal agents last week has triggered large-scale protests across Los Angeles, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to the city, a move that has ignited a legal and political confrontation with California’s leadership.
Also Read: Governor Newsom says ’democracy is under assault’ in response to Trump’s military deployment in LA
Why are people protesting in Los Angeles?
The unrest began on June 6, when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) swept through multiple neighbourhoods in and around downtown Los Angeles. Over 100 undocumented immigrants were detained in a matter of hours. The raids were part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy that federal officials said aimed to meet a daily national target of 3,000 arrests.
Within hours, demonstrators began gathering outside ICE offices and City Hall. The protests grew over the weekend, swelling to thousands of people, immigrant rights activists, students, clergy, and families, demanding an immediate halt to the raids and calling for the release of those detained.
