Tensions flared in Los Angeles on Saturday as protests erupted following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that led to dozens of arrests, prompting former President Donald Trump to threaten federal intervention.
The protests began in Paramount, where a large crowd gathered around Paramount Boulevard, blocking traffic after reports of ongoing ICE operations. Demonstrators attempted to obstruct a U.S. Marshals Service bus and threw objects at law enforcement vehicles.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs… then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that up to 400 protesters gathered, prompting authorities to declare an unlawful assembly. Federal agents had already fired non-lethal munitions before sheriff’s deputies arrived. Protesters also clashed with police near the Paramount-Compton border, where a burning vehicle became a flashpoint, and individuals performed stunts around the fire.
As tensions escalated, officers in riot gear moved in, forming skirmish lines and dispersing the crowd. Graffiti was sprayed on buildings, and some protesters continued throwing objects at law enforcement, prompting further arrests.
ICE confirmed that 118 arrests were made during the week in Los Angeles, with 44 occurring on Friday. Spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe said, “ICE officers and agents, alongside partner law enforcement agencies, executed four federal search warrants at three locations in central Los Angeles.” One warrant was reportedly related to the harboring of undocumented individuals.
The situation remains tense, with law enforcement monitoring for further unrest and preparing for potential disruptions on major highways.