Harvard students slam latest Trump visa ban
US President Donald Trump's late-night proclamation blocking Harvard's new international students has sparked fear and anger among existing students left in limbo amid his escalating showdown with the university.
Alfred Williamson, a Welsh-Danish physics and government student in his second year, said he was 'clinging on to the hope that
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1News
4 hours ago
- 1News
Dozens of LA-area mayors demand Trump administration stop immigration raids
Dozens of mayors from across the Los Angeles region banded together today to demand that the Trump administration stop the stepped-up immigration raids that have spread fear across their cities and sparked protests across the US. But there were no signs US President Donald Trump would heed their pleas. About 500 of the National Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles protests have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, the commander in charge said Wednesday. And while some troops have already gone on such missions, he said it's too early to say if that will continue even after the protests die down. 'We are expecting a ramp-up,' said Major General Scott Sherman, noting that protests across the nation were being discussed. 'I'm focused right here in LA, what's going on right here. But you know, I think we're, we're very concerned.' Hours later, a demonstration in Los Angeles' civic centre just before start of the second night of the city's downtown curfew briefly turned chaotic when police in riot gear — many on horseback — charged at a group, striking them with wooden rods and later fired crowd control projectiles, including one that struck a woman who writhed in pain on the ground. After the curfew went into effect, a handful of arrests were made before the area cleared out and the evening quieted down. ADVERTISEMENT The LA-area mayors and city council members urged Trump to stop using armed military troops alongside immigration agents. 'I'm asking you, please listen to me, stop terrorising our residents,' said Brenda Olmos, vice mayor of Paramount, who said she was hit by rubber bullets over the weekend. 'You need to stop these raids.' Speaking alongside the other mayors at a news conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the raids spread fear at the behest of the White House. The city's nightly curfew will remain in effect as long as necessary. It covers a 2.5-square-kilometre section of downtown where the protests have been concentrated in the city that encompasses roughly 1295 square kilometres. 'If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,' Bass said. Those who have been caught up in the nationwide raids include asylum seekers, people who overstayed their visas and migrants awaiting their day in immigration court. The administration has cited the protests in its decision to deploy the military. Governor asks court to step in ADVERTISEMENT A man shouts into a megaphone outside City Hall during a protest on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Source: Associated Press) California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has asked a federal court to put an emergency stop to the military helping immigration agents in the nation's second-largest city. This week, guardsmen began standing protectively around agents as they carry out arrests. A judge set a hearing for tomorrow. The Trump administration called the lawsuit a "crass political stunt endangering American lives" in its official response today. The military is now closer to engaging in law enforcement actions such as deportations, as Trump has promised in his crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers, but any arrests must be made by law enforcement. The president posted on the Truth Social platform that the city 'would be burning to the ground' if he had not sent in the military. Some 2000 National Guard soldiers are in Los Angeles and are soon to be joined by 2000 more along with about 700 Marines, Sherman said. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press and ABC, Sherman initially said National Guard troops had already temporarily detained civilians in the Los Angeles protests over immigration raids. He later said he based his comments on photos and footage he had seen that turned out not to be a representation of Guard members in Los Angeles. ADVERTISEMENT Curfew continues in downtown LA Police detained more than 20 people, mostly on curfew violations, on the first night of the curfew and used crowd-control projectiles to break up hundreds of protesters. But officers were more aggressive in controlling demonstrators Wednesday evening and as the curfew took effect, police were beginning to make arrests. Los Angeles police have made nearly 400 arrests and detentions since Sunday, the vast majority of which were for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police department. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against police officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine police officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injures. Some were transported to a hospital and released. Protests have spread nationwide A demonstrator with carrying a Mexican flag chants during a protest against deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, June 11, 2025. (Source: Associated Press) Demonstrations have also spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, and Chicago and New York, where thousands rallied and more arrests were made. ADVERTISEMENT In New York City, police said they took 86 people into custody during protests in lower Manhattan that lasted into Thursday. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the majority of demonstrators were peaceful. A 66-year-old woman in Chicago was injured when she was struck by a car during downtown protests yesterday, police said. Video showed a car speeding down a street where people were protesting. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Governor Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were 'on standby" in areas where demonstrations are planned. Guard members were sent to San Antonio, but Police Chief William McManus said he had not been told how many troops were deployed or their role ahead of planned protests tonight and Sunday. Officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety said the Texas National Guard was present at a protest downtown. The protests began Saturday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles.
NZ Herald
12 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Donald Trump booed, cheered at Kennedy Centre premiere of Les Miserables amid boycott
Cheers and boos met US President Donald Trump as he attended a performance of Les Miserables at Washington's premier cultural institution, which he has effectively seized control of since returning to power in January. Trump's appearance at the opening night of the hit musical Les Miserables at the
1News
14 hours ago
- 1News
LA police swiftly enforce curfew as anti-ICE protests continue
Los Angeles police swiftly enforced a downtown curfew this evening, making arrests moments after it took effect, while deploying officers on horseback and using crowd control projectiles to break up a group of hundreds demonstrating against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields, but did not appear to participate in the arrests. Hours later, many of the protesters had dispersed, although sporadic confrontations continued that were much smaller than in previous nights. Officials said the curfew was necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators looking to cause trouble. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom earlier accused Trump of drawing a 'military dragnet' across the nation's second-largest city with his escalating use of the National Guard. He also deployed Marines, though none were seen on the streets today. Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents, with some guardsmen now standing in protection around agents as they carried out arrests. He said it would only heighten tensions and promote civil unrest. The judge set a hearing for Friday, giving the administration several days to continue those activities. ADVERTISEMENT The change moves troops closer to engaging in law enforcement actions like deportations as Trump has promised as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers but any arrests ultimately would be made by law enforcement. California, meanwhile, is preparing to sue President Donald Trump over his use of troops to confront protesters. (Source: 1News) Trump has activated more than 4000 National Guard members and 700 Marines over the objections of city and state leaders. They were originally deployed to protect federal buildings. Demonstrations have spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin, Texas, Chicago and New York, where a thousand people rallied and multiple arrests were made. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were 'on standby" in areas where demonstrations are planned, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said this evening. Guard members were deployed to San Antonio, according to assistant police chief Jesse Salame. He said he did not know how many were sent or details on the deployment. LA mayor puts curfew in place ADVERTISEMENT California National Guard guard the Federal Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (Source: Associated Press) Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on the fifth day of protests and said the curfew will run from 8pm Tuesday until 6am Wednesday (local time). She said it was expected to last for several days. 'We reached a tipping point' after 23 businesses were looted, Bass said during a news conference today. The curfew covers a 2.5 square kilometre section of downtown that includes the area where protests have occurred since Saturday. The city of Los Angeles encompasses nearly 2300 square kilometres. The curfew doesn't apply to residents who live in the designated area, people who are homeless, credentialed media or public safety and emergency officials, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. McDonnell said 'unlawful and dangerous behaviour' had been escalating since Sunday. 'The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city,' McDonnell said. ADVERTISEMENT Trump says he's open to using Insurrection Act The protests began peacefully. (Source: Getty) Trump left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, which authorises the president to deploy military forces inside the US to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. It's one of the most extreme emergency powers available to a US president. 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see,' he said from the Oval Office. Later the president called protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg ostensibly to recognise the 250th anniversary of the US Army. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. In a public address this evening, Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an 'assault' on democracy. ADVERTISEMENT 'California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next,' he said. Newsom warned people against inciting violence, but urged them to stand up to the president's actions. 'What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence. To be complicit in this moment," he said. 'Do not give it to him.' Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during an address on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Source: Office of California Governor via AP) The protests began Saturday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown in the city of 4 million. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention centre where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids. Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting ICE present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom. ADVERTISEMENT McDonnell said that police had made 197 arrests today, including 67 who were taken into custody for unlawfully occupying part of the 101 freeway. Several businesses were broken into Monday, though authorities didn't say if the looting was tied to the protests. The vast majority of arrests have been for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting, vandalism and attempted murder for tossing a Molotov cocktail. Seven police officers were reportedly injured, and at least two were taken to a hospital and released. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested today that the use of troops inside the US will continue to expand. The Pentagon said deploying the National Guard and Marines costs US$134 million (NZ$222.1 million).
