L.A. immigration protests erupt in unrest — officials question whether demonstrators or agitators sparked it

Economic Times

a day ago

AP L.A. immigration protests erupted into chaos as masked agitators clashed with LAPD, torched Waymo cars, and hurled concrete at officers. Here's what sparked the unrest, who's involved, and how police plan to respond next. Read the full breakdown.
L.A. immigration protests has taken a sharp turn as peaceful demonstrations transformed into heated confrontations on the streets of Los Angeles. What started as a response to sudden federal immigration raids has now grown into a larger clash between city leaders, protesters, and the federal government. At the center of it all is the question: who's truly behind the unrest—local demonstrators or outside agitators? On June 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched coordinated raids across Los Angeles, targeting the Fashion District, Home Depot branches, and local garment warehouses. Over 100 undocumented individuals were arrested in a single day. Among those detained was David Huerta, a top official with SEIU California, who was hospitalized after suffering injuries during the operation.
The protests started in response to federal immigration sweeps across Los Angeles County, targeting predominantly Latino neighborhoods like Paramount, Huntington Park, and Whittier. These actions sparked outrage among community members and activists who took to the streets demanding accountability and reform in immigration enforcement. But what started as a call for justice quickly escalated. According to the LAPD, masked individuals — described as "anarchists" by Chief Jim McDonnell — infiltrated the crowd, using the unrest as cover to vandalize property, attack police, and cause public disorder. City officials have raised concerns that the unrest might not be entirely organic. While many on the ground were peaceful demonstrators, LAPD officials said a number of masked individuals were seen handing out gas masks and what they called 'bionic shields'—lightweight body armor made for resisting riot gear. This has led to fears that organized agitators may be trying to escalate the situation.
According to Yahoo News, local police and federal officials suspect these groups are not random. Some may be affiliated with well-organized networks trained to hijack protests and turn them into violent events. One senior LAPD commander said, 'We've seen this pattern before. It starts with a protest, and suddenly, it turns into something much more calculated.' Chief McDonnell was quick to draw a line between peaceful protesters and those instigating violence. "These are people who are all hooded up. They've got hoodies on, they've got face masks on," McDonnell said. 'They go from one civil unrest to another using the same tactics. And they are connected.' Throughout the weekend, these individuals hurled commercial-grade fireworks, cinder blocks, and even scooters at police. Others were seen breaking cinder blocks with hammers to use the fragments as projectiles. This level of preparation suggests a coordinated effort beyond spontaneous outrage. President Donald Trump responded swiftly—and controversially. Bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump invoked Title 10 to federalize the response. He first deployed 2,000 National Guard troops, then increased the number by another 2,000, along with 700 active-duty Marines to protect 'federal property and restore law and order.' Newsom strongly objected, calling the deployment 'unlawful' and a 'political stunt.' L.A. Mayor Karen Bass echoed the criticism, accusing the federal government of using Los Angeles as a 'test case' for larger crackdowns nationwide. 'We didn't ask for this,' she told reporters. 'This isn't help. This is provocation.' By June 9, the State of California filed a lawsuit against the federal deployment, claiming it violated constitutional rights and state authority. The LAPD and federal law enforcement used a heavy-handed approach to contain the chaos. Police officers responded with foam bullets, tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper balls to disperse crowds. At one point on Sunday afternoon, National Guard troops charged into a group of demonstrators outside the Metropolitan Detention Center. Protesters were pushed back with riot shields as loud booms from flash-bangs echoed through the streets. The federal officers reportedly gave no clear warning before charging the crowd, whose chants overpowered earlier instructions to clear vehicle paths.
Independent journalist Jonas March, 21, recounted being hit as he tried to crawl to safety: "As soon as I stood up, they shot me in the a—," he said. What started in L.A. quickly rippled across the country. Demonstrations have been reported in over 30 cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Seattle. While most protests have remained peaceful, some incidents have mirrored the violence seen in Los Angeles—burned vehicles, street blockades, and standoffs with law enforcement.
National immigration advocacy groups are now joining the movement. There's talk of a nationwide protest day later this month, calling for an end to ICE raids and the release of all detained individuals. The Department of Homeland Security says it will 'continue to enforce federal immigration law,' but activists say this battle is far from over. The damage was widespread and shocking. Waymo autonomous taxis were set on fire, sending plumes of black smoke over the 101 Freeway. Vandals smashed windows of city buildings and spray-painted anti-police slogans. Footage from an ABC-7 helicopter showed masked individuals looting a shoe store in the Broadway corridor. Elsewhere, masked men flung scooters and chunks of concrete at California Highway Patrol officers sheltering under an overpass. Near Gloria Molina Grand Park, demonstrators ripped park benches from the ground, building makeshift barricades across Spring Street. One disturbing video circulating online showed a woman being trampled by a police horse as mounted officers tried to push the crowd back. Another incident involved a man accused of ramming a motorcycle into police, and someone else allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail. These were among the 50 arrests made by the LAPD over the weekend. Yes, according to LAPD Chief McDonnell. 'The number of arrests we made will pale in comparison to the number of arrests that will be made,' he said, noting that detectives are now reviewing body camera footage and social media videos to identify more suspects involved in the violence. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office will pursue charges against anyone involved in criminal acts, especially those who 'hurl cinder blocks, light vehicles on fire, destroy property, and assault law enforcement officers.' However, officials from the Los Angeles City Attorney and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office have not confirmed whether specific cases are currently under review. Many believe so. Community members and peaceful protesters say the actions of a few are drowning out the message of the demonstrations — which is to oppose immigration raids and support immigrant families.
Julie Solis, 50, was among those urging restraint. Walking down Alameda Street holding a California flag, she warned protesters not to fall into the trap: 'They want arrests. They want to see us fail,' she said. 'We need to be peaceful. We need to be eloquent.' Still, with scenes of violence dominating headlines and social media feeds, the focus has shifted away from immigration enforcement and toward the chaos unfolding in L.A.'s civic center.
Q1: Why did the L.A. immigration protests turn violent? Some masked agitators joined peaceful protesters and caused destruction.
Q2: How many people were arrested during the L.A. immigration protests? The LAPD arrested at least 50 people over the weekend.