Anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles shutter downtown VA medical center services
Approximately 220,000 veterans reside in Los Angeles County, and inside the downtown area of Los Angeles is a crucial outpatient VA medical center. As part of the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, this clinic plays a central role in serving veterans in the DTLA area, offering a variety of on-site preventative and interventional services.
Mental health care is a significant focus of the downtown VA medical center in Los Angeles. Veterans facing ongoing issues related to their service – problems like post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, or substance abuse challenges – have access to same-day appointments, counseling, and group therapy. With nearly 3,000 veterans in LA County experiencing homelessness, mental health support isn't just helpful, it's essential.
The clinic offers a comprehensive range of support and services tailored to meet the everyday health needs of veterans who visit its doors, including primary care, laboratory work, management of chronic conditions, and coordinated referrals to specialists.
Female veterans also receive dedicated, thoughtful care. From OB-GYN services and maternity support to trauma-informed counseling and preventive screenings, the clinic acknowledges and addresses the unique needs of women who have served but whose needs are too often overlooked in more traditional healthcare settings.
Specialty services, including dermatology, audiology, oral surgery, and nutrition counseling, are also offered, making it easier for veterans to access comprehensive care in one place. This location also offers amenities such as wheelchair accessibility, valet parking, and VA-covered transportation to help reduce the barriers that might otherwise prevent a veteran from accessing the facility.
This clinic often becomes a stabilizing force for those trying to rebuild their lives, and even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, its doors remained open to veterans.
For the first time, its doors were closed, and veterans were turned away from in-person care.
On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began a series of raids to arrest illegal immigrants, who the Department of Homeland Security says have significant criminal histories. What began as peaceful protests against the raids quickly morphed into pockets of violence as demonstrators and law enforcement squared off, prompting the federal agents to seek backup support.
As the disturbances continued, the Los Angeles police officers on the scene were also drawn into the melee. Many LAPD vehicles were hit with a barrage of bricks, fireworks, and rocks. It was a scene of riotous violence broadcast live on national television.
The protests against ICE erupted into full-scale riots in some areas, with protestors defacing government buildings – like the downtown VA clinic – with graffiti and threats. VA Secretary and Air Force Reserve Col. Doug Collins made the difficult decision to close the clinic for in-person appointments for the entire week due to security concerns for the veterans and on-site staff. He shared the above message and photo of the destruction on X.
We Are The Mighty reached out to the VA leader for a statement on the closure.
'California leaders have repeatedly put the interests of illegal immigrants and criminals above those of hard-working citizens and now Los Angeles veterans are paying the price,' Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said. 'We are thankful President Trump has the courage to bring order and safety back to the citizens of Los Angeles, something the California leaders have failed to do. The LA Ambulatory Care Center will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so and in the meantime, in-person appointments at the facility are being rescheduled or shifted to telehealth.'
President Trump activated and deployed the National Guard on June 7, 2025, to restore order. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued the order just a day later, authorizing 700 Marines to provide additional support to law enforcement on the ground.
After hundreds of arrests L.A. Mayor Karen Bass instituted a public curfew for the downtown area due to the extensive looting and rioting. That evening, rioters could be seen hurling objects at National Guardsmen protecting the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Governor Gavin Newsom also addressed the nation and the protestors themselves, asking them to peacefully go home.
As of Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the pockets of violent protesting continued, and the marines deployed to help contain the area continued their training to be ready to support federal law enforcement and guardsmen on the ground.
With the closure of the VA clinic in downtown Los Angeles, many veterans were unable to be seen at all and had to be rescheduled for later dates. With significant wait times for primary care or mental health appointments, the rescheduling is more than just an inconvenience for these veterans.
It can mean the difference between life and death.
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