Protests escalate as more ICE agents arrive in Southern California, officials urge peace
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After days of immigration sweeps and protests, and a morning of military forces mobilizing in Los Angeles – sparked by President Trump's deployment of the National Guard – demonstrations have again started up after officials confirmed Sunday that more U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived in Southern California.
Protests again escalate in downtown Los Angeles
For the third day in a row, demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles have been ordered to disperse after the Los Angeles Police Department again declared an Unlawful Assembly.
Hours after announcing the start of three separate, peaceful protests throughout L.A., LAPD's Central Division announced that the city was on Tactical Alert at 2:30 p.m.
'The use of less lethal munitions has been authorized,' said LAPD. 'Arrests are being made.'
In an update just before 3:30 p.m., LAPD said officers were seeing people in the crowd throwing 'concrete, bottles and other objects.'
Traffic was closed for all lanes of Alameda between Aliso and Temple Street, as well as Spring Street between Temple and 1st Street, as of 3 p.m. Sunday.
In addition, LAPD warned the public against entering active MTA train areas. 'All those persons who remain on the tracks are subject to arrest,' the department said. 'Leave the track area.'
Sky5 was overhead as protestors moved onto the 101 Freeway, some trying to block California Highway Patrol vehicles before crowds poured onto both south and northbound lanes.
Just before 4 p.m., two motorcycles were seen pummeling through a skirmish line at Temple and Alameda, possibly injuring officers. KTLA's Gil Leyvas reported seeing at least three people in custody following the collision.
ICE agents spotted in Pasadena
'We have received and confirmed reports that Federal personnel are present in Pasadena,' read a statement from the office of Mayor Victor M. Gordo. 'I urge our community to remain calm, united and peaceful, and not be baited or provoked into violence.'
This announcement came after word spread on Sunday morning of unconfirmed ICE activity happening at a hotel located on Madison Avenue near Colorado Boulevard, which led to a small protest outside the building. However, in the statement posted to X at 1:15 p.m., officials noted, 'At this time, no enforcement activity has been confirmed.'
City officials took notice of a small gathering 'near a location within the city' earlier on Sunday, but they did not specify whether it was the demonstration seen outside the hotel that they were referring to.
A KTLA crew sent to the hotel was able to confirm the presence of ICE agents and also learned that there were no raids actively taking place at the location. According to activists at the scene, some hotel workers left by choice after purportedly being asked questions by the agents.
'At this time, the City is not aware of any federal law enforcement action in the City, including those regarding immigration,' the Pasadena X account said regarding the earlier gathering.
The protests remained peaceful in Pasadena as of Sunday afternoon, exemplifying the wishes and messages pushed by leaders as tensions heightened on Saturday between local and federal government officials.
Leaders speak out as federal forces loom
In response to escalated protests that turned destructive earlier in the weekend, the White House announced Saturday evening that Trump officially deployed 2,000 National Guard troops 'to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.'
Governor Gavin Newsom called the move 'purposefully inflammatory,' saying it would 'only escalate tensions.'
'The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate,' Newsom said. 'That is not the way any civilized country behaves.'
U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth joined in the ongoing conversation on X as well, threatening to mobilize active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton 'if violence continues.'
In response to the federal government deploying the National Guard, Newsom's office released a joint statement on Sunday with quotes from senators, congressmembers and other statewide and local officials, titled, 'California stands united against chaotic and inflammatory federal takeover of California National Guard Unit.'
Within the list of quotes was one by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, saying in part, 'The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it's felt in our communities and within our families and it puts our neighborhoods at risk. This is the last thing that our city needs, and I urge protestors to remain peaceful.' Mayor Bass also spoke with KTLA on Sunday morning in an exclusive interview, expressing her disappointment in the President's decision to deploy the National Guard.
President Trump again took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday afternoon with the following response to the unrest in Los Angeles:
'A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve. I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'
While federal force continues to loom, the common message from local and state leaders continues to urge peace among protestors, and reminds the public to be aware of their rights.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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