Is it safe to travel to LA as protests and looting erupts across US city?
Protests against President Donald Trump 's immigration enforcement raids have continued throughout the week, escalating into violent clashes between demonstrators and police.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass says that looters and vandals have 'taken advantage' of Trump's 'chaotic escalation' in response to the protests, causing her to activate a curfew in the downtown area.
While the curfew caused crowds to disperse, protests have spilt over into other US cities, including San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Austin and New York City.
The president ordered thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles this week, and as they arrived, California Governor Gavin Newsom urged citizens to 'not take the bait' and stay calm.
National Guard troops guarded federal government buildings, while police and protesters clashed in separate demonstrations across Los Angeles over federal immigration raids by ICE.
Los Angeles County attracts both domestic and foreign tourists to its eclectic mix of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character, from larger-than-life Hollywood to the shiny high-rises of Downtown LA and the bohemian spirit of Venice Beach.
With millions of tourists visiting the glitzy coastal city region each year, here is what you need to know as a visitor while tensions remain high over Trump's immigration enforcement.
Why are there protests in LA?
Protests started after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted search warrants at multiple locations on Friday. Crowds tried to stop ICE agents from driving away following the arrests of 188 people.
Another protest then erupted outside a federal building in downtown LA, when demonstrators found that detainees were allegedly being held in the basement of the building. Meanwhile, protests sparked in Paramount after it appeared federal officers were conducting another immigration operation in the area.
The demonstrations spread to the nearby city of Compton, as well as outside a federal detention center, with protestors chanting, "Set them free, let them stay!"
Has there been violence?
Footage showed an escalation in the clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with police in riot gear using tear gas to disperse the crowds over the weekend.
Other videos showed protesters throwing fireworks and projectiles at officers, while images captured vehicles on fire.
Los Angeles police declared several rallies to be "unlawful assemblies", accusing some protesters of throwing concrete projectiles, bottles and other items at police.
Rubber bullets have also been fired by police to try to disperse protesters, with an Australian television journalist and a British photographer hit by the crowd-control rounds.
In a press briefing, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell said that 27 arrests had been made Sunday, and warned clashes were 'getting increasingly worse and more violent'.
The LAPD also said early Monday morning that there had been reports of looting in the city; however, by the evening, protests had quelled and violent clashes had dropped.
Authorities enforced the curfew in the city between 8pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday, with Mayor Bass warning that anyone who failed to comply would be detained. The LAPD said that it made 'mass arrests' after the restriction was imposed.
The day after the protests started, Mr Trump ordered the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard troops to LA. The state National Guard has not been federalised by a president, overriding a governor, since 1965.
On Monday, Trump then ordered the deployment of a 700-strong US Marine battalion and doubled the number of troops, sending a further 2,000 on the ground in LA.
Californian authorities are urging calm and calling out the president for the 'unnecessary' action that was designed to create 'chaos' and 'a spectacle'.
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: 'Don't give Donald Trump what he wants.'
'Speak up. Stay peaceful. Stay calm. Do not use violence and respect the law enforcement officers that are trying their best to keep the peace,' he wrote. 'Don't take the bait. Never use violence or harm law enforcement.'
What is the government's advice?
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned travellers of demonstrations and protests taking place in Los Angeles.
'Media reports suggest the police response has included use of flash-bangs, tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber/sponge bullets,' it wrote.
It advises people to 'monitor local media and follow the advice of the local authorities, plan ahead to avoid disruption and stay away from crowds and demonstrations'.
The FCDO also has general advice on protests that occur in the US: 'Protests are common and can become violent. Follow the instructions of local authorities who may introduce curfews or emergency orders.'
Can I cancel my holiday to LA?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to the US, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
31 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump's tax-cut bill could hold back US critical minerals projects
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill would make it harder for American critical minerals companies to compete with China because it eliminates a tax credit for boosting domestic production of nickel, rare earths and other materials used in advanced electronics and weaponry. With Trump and Republican lawmakers aiming to cut government support for green energy projects, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a version of his "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last month that eliminates the so-called 45X credit. The Senate is now debating the bill. Former President Joe Biden's 2022 climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, created the 10% production credit - a reduction in corporate taxes for critical minerals extraction and processing. The tax break also covers solar, battery and wind projects. The version of the bill that passed the House treats government incentives for wind turbines the same as those for mining projects that many view as crucial for national security. Critical minerals companies now say their projects are collateral damage to the political feud over renewable energy. The tax credit is already law and part of the current federal budget. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which scores the cost of legislative proposals when asked by Congress, has not studied how much would be saved by removing the credit. The Republican majority in Congress is seeking savings to fund other priorities such as tax cuts, defense and balancing the budget. This month, the hard-right House Freedom Caucus said it "will not accept", opens new tab attempts to "water down, strip out, or walk back the hard-fought spending reductions and IRA Green New Scam rollbacks achieved in this legislation." Miners, though, say they need the credit to compete with China. Beijing has halted exports of some critical minerals, used its control of rare earths to strike a trade agreement with Washington, and flooded global markets with cheap supply of nickel, cobalt and lithium. The traditionally conservative mining industry now finds itself in the unusual position of needing Washington's support to grow and, in some cases, survive. The owner of the only U.S. cobalt mine went bankrupt this year after Chinese miners depressed global prices of that metal. "If we do not have that tax credit, critical minerals producers in the U.S. are at risk of succumbing to closures," said KaLeigh Long, founder and CEO of Westwin Elements, which is building the country's only commercial nickel refinery. Westwin might not be able to service its debt without the tax credit, Long said, noting the company's loans were modeled using the expectation it would be permanent. Last month, Long wrote a letter asking the Senate to keep the credit. It was co-signed by 30 industry executives. Any changes the Senate makes to the bill must be reconciled with the House version before being sent to Trump. Several House members have admitted they did not read the entire bill before voting for it, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, a Georgia Republican, and Congressman Mike Flood, a Nebraska Republican. House Democrats unanimously voted against the bill but their criticism has focused on tax cuts they say will widen the deficit while requiring cuts in health care, food assistance, education, scientific research and other programs. "There's so many issues right now under consideration in Congress and this one isn't breaking through, but it will certainly break through when we have a shortage of minerals in five years," said Jeff Green, a critical minerals industry consultant. Senator John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat who voted for the IRA in 2022, said in a statement to Reuters that cutting the credit would "kill jobs ... just to fund tax breaks for the ultra-weathy" and would be a "bad deal" for the country. Trump, who has issued several executive orders aimed at boosting U.S. minerals production, has not commented publicly on the 45x debate. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. "The tax credit just adds a phenomenal bump to a project's economics and gives us advantages that China already gives its own companies," said Alex Grant, CEO of magnesium processing startup Magrathea, who signed the letter. China controls most of the world's production of the metal, used in alloys for steel and aluminum. Abigail Hunter, executive director of SAFE's Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, described the tax credit as the "only tool currently available to support industry exposed to market manipulation." The House version also removes any remaining IRA funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO), which under Biden awarded billions of dollars in loans to Nevada lithium projects from ioneer ( opens new tab and Lithium Americas ( opens new tab. Potential for the LPO's closure led miners to rush to finalize loans last year, as Reuters reported in August. Republican senators this week said they were in discussions about how to extend some green energy tax credits, especially for businesses with large capital investments. No firm commitments have been made. For Mahesh Konduru, CEO of minerals processing startup Momentum Technologies, the credit is one way for Washington to show industry support. "We need to have the appropriate tools to build, nurture and grow that supply chain inside the United States," he said.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Anti-ICE protesters who harassed black NYC mom UNMASKED as radical activists with checkered pasts
Two anti-ICE protesters who mocked a black New York City mother as she pleaded to get to work have been identified as a former BLM demonstrator who won a major lawsuit against the city and a senior vice president at a market research firm with a history of guerrilla activism. Trevor Britvec, 36, was filmed alongside Karen Ramspacher, 60, blocking an intersection on Houston Street in lower Manhattan, arguing with a mother who was trying to drive past to get to work. Conservative commentator for Turning Point USA, Savanah Hernandez, filmed the dramatic exchange and posted it on X Tuesday. 'Just watched 2 white liberals stop traffic and tell a mother who was begging to go to work, that illegals and their children are more important,' she wrote. 'I then asked them how they felt stopping a black woman from getting to work. They both laughed in our faces.' Britvec was especially sarcastic to the young mother, mockingly responding 'Oh no, not work' to her question of what would happen to her kid if she lost her job. When asked if he 'cared about stopping a black woman from going to work', Britvec smirked at the camera and admitted 'no'. Britvec laughed in the face of the black NYC mom as she pleaded for him to move, saying 'oh no, not work' and smirkingly answering 'no' when asked if he 'cared about stopping a black woman from going to work' In an exclusive interview with Ramspacher claimed she blocked traffic for less than 10 minutes – a disruption she called a small price to pay to highlight what she views as unjustified ICE raids. 'It was a temporary, momentary interruption to the regular flow of traffic in order to bring attention and express people's concerns about this dangerous situation we find ourselves in where the military and ICE agents are going into the communities and taking our friends and family members,' she said. She said she did not know Britvek. 'That single video looks like it's that person and me blocking traffic,' the market research exec added. 'That's not what it was. We were preventing the cars from driving into the marchers. There were at least 10,000 of them behind us.' Ramspacher, who has been participating in guerilla-style protests since the 1980s, explained why she had turned away when Hernandez asked her how they felt as 'white people… stopping a black woman from going to work?' 'I was surprised, and I turned away because that was not the issue that we're there to focus on,' Ramspacher told But both Britvec and Ramspacher have eyebrow-raising histories revolving around the NYPD and 'woke' movements in the city. According to public records, Britvec sued New York City alleging that his civil rights were violated by the NYPD when he was arrested at a Black Lives Matter protest in July 2020. Describing himself in his lawsuit as a US Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, he alleged that several NYPD officers pushed him off a bike, struck him with a police baton, and shoved the baton 'up his buttocks' as he was arrested. He added that he was wearing a face mask at the time 'to prevent the spread of Covid-19 ', and alleged that NYPD officers removing his face mask for a mugshot was also a violation of his civil rights. According to the public court records, criminal filings against Britvec from this arrest were dismissed in September 2020, and he went on to sue the city along with five other BLM protestors. In February 2024, the city reached a settlement with the group that saw Britvec awarded $115,000. Ramspacher has held down a job as senior vice president of Innovation & Insights at market research firm MRI-Simmons. She's also a longtime New Yorker who owns a condo near NYPD headquarters in lower Manhattan. If there's a protest, its likely Ramspacher has been there as she's been photographed at demonstrations all over the city for the past four decades. She is a core member of Act Up, an AIDS activist group that famously barged into a CBS studio interrupting Dan Rather on the Evening News in 1991, unfurled banners about condoms during the Pope's visit to New York and has been involved in other guerilla-style protests. Ramspacher told the now-defunct Out Week magazine she was arrested at an abortion rights protest in 1989 and gave quotes in a report of a 2002 protest against Coca-Cola. She was pictured at the 2017 25th Annual Dyke March for lesbian rights, at the July 2022 Women's March outside the White House in Washington DC and was quoted in New York Magazine's The Cut in September 2020 at a public memorial to late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She also contributed to an Act Up online guide for 'civil disobedience training', in which she advocated for getting arrested at protests to bring attention to the issue at hand. 'A large number of people take arrests to communicate the idea that they are dissatisfied with the way things are- what's happening/not happening,' she wrote in the guide. 'For me, it began as a symbolic act a few years ago and has turned into a necessity both as my 'part' to contribute to the quest for social and political change, and as a channel for personal frustration and anger.' A reported 80 people were arrested at the protest in New York City on Tuesday, though Ramspacher described it as 'peaceful ' during her attendance between 5.30pm and 8.30pm that evening. She told that she hadn't seen footage of the violence at riots in Los Angeles, including burnt-out Waymo taxis and smashed up police cars, but added she believes it is a 'personal choice' for protestors to use methods they feel are proportional. 'The way that I ever get involved is, I see something that seems wrong, and if I can, I try to make a positive difference,' she said.
Reuters
41 minutes ago
- Reuters
Abrego Garcia seeks sanctions against Trump administration in wrongful deportation case
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man wrongly deported from Maryland to El Salvador before being returned to the United States on migrant smuggling charges, is seeking sanctions against the Trump administration for allegedly stonewalling an inquiry into efforts to secure his return. The case has become a flashpoint over President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies. Critics have held it up as an example of the administration's willingness to deny due process and evade court orders in its push to deport migrants. Lawyers for Abrego Garcia argued in a court filing late on Wednesday that a judge should punish the federal government for failing to provide meaningful information about steps U.S. agencies took to comply with court orders to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. 'The Government's defiance has not been subtle. It has been vocal and sustained and flagrant,' Abrego Garcia's lawyers wrote in the filing. The filing asked U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis to conclude that the Trump administration did not take all available steps to bring about his return. It also seeks an unspecified sum in fines and to compel U.S. officials to turn over documents they have previously withheld, citing legal privileges. Spokespeople from the U.S. Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the filing. The Trump administration has argued it satisfied court orders by bringing Abrego Garcia to Tennessee last week to face a federal criminal indictment accusing him of transporting migrants living in the U.S. illegally to destinations around the country. Abrego Garcia's lawyers have denounced the charges as 'fantastical' and argued that the indictment should not end a separate lawsuit over his wrongful deportation in March. Abrego Garcia is set to appear for a detention hearing in the criminal case on Friday. The Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of the MS-13 street gang, a charge his lawyers deny. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return after U.S. officials conceded he was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador despite a prior court order barring him from being returned there. Administration officials initially said they had no way to compel El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia, who had been held in a Salvadorian prison, to U.S. custody. Xinis, who is presiding over the lawsuit, rejected those arguments and in April allowed Abrego Garcia's lawyers to question U.S. officials and seek documents on any steps the Trump administration had taken to secure his return. The Trump administration raised several legal privileges, arguing it did not have to divulge information that could impact U.S. national security or complicate diplomatic negotiations.
