Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on Tuesday (June 10) that a curfew will be implemented in specific areas of downtown Los Angeles, starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and ending at 6 a.m. the following day. She expects this curfew measure to last for several days.
During a press conference, Bass stated that in order to prevent looting and destruction as protests entered the fifth day, the city government decided to impose a curfew in downtown. She noted that while the total area of Los Angeles is approximately 502 square miles, the curfew only covers one square mile in downtown.
Bass urged, “If you do not live or work in downtown Los Angeles, please avoid the area.”
The curfew will begin at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and end at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Residents of downtown, commuters, and media personnel will be allowed passage and will not be restricted by the curfew. Bass mentioned that curfews may be implemented again in the coming nights.
Meanwhile, Bass reiterated her call for the Trump administration to end ICE’s enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants, stating, “We do not know how long these raids will continue… If we want to restore peace to the city, I will once again request the government to stop the raids.”
On the White House side, President Trump promised that law enforcement agencies will continue their daily arrest operations in Los Angeles. National Guard units deployed to the area have begun assisting in clearing operations and protecting ICE personnel from attacks by protesters.
In an effort to ease tensions, Trump deployed the California National Guard to Los Angeles last Saturday (June 7) and announced the deployment of 700 Marines and an additional 2000 National Guardsmen on Monday (June 9).
This move has been met with opposition from Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The California government has filed a lawsuit requesting President Trump to withdraw all deployments. A court hearing on the state’s application for a temporary restraining order is scheduled for Thursday afternoon (June 12).
California authorities argue that the federal government does not need to intervene in local governance or security work, as the majority of demonstrators protesting ICE raids have remained peaceful and the number of protesters is significantly lower than local law enforcement.
However, videos showing protesters throwing stones at cars, burning vehicles, and verbally attacking law enforcement officers have sparked national attention.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons countered that the number of protesters over the weekend far exceeded law enforcement personnel. At one point, over 1,000 people surrounded a federal building, with some demonstrators resorting to violent actions. Despite multiple calls to the Los Angeles police, it took over two hours for them to respond.
In a statement to NTD Television, Lyons said, “What happened in Los Angeles is shocking. While the thugs were attacking federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the streets of Los Angeles, Mayor Bass chose to stand with the chaos and lawlessness rather than with the law enforcement agencies.”