Los Angeles, June 11, 2025 – The Europe Today: The City of Los Angeles imposed a nighttime curfew in its downtown area on Tuesday, marking the fifth consecutive day of public demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement measures. The curfew comes as tensions escalate between federal and local authorities over the deployment of National Guard troops and the president’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act.
Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency, announcing that the curfew would remain in effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, covering a one-square-mile section of downtown Los Angeles — the epicenter of the ongoing protests. The mayor cited significant public safety concerns, noting that 23 businesses were looted in recent days.
“We reached a tipping point,” Bass stated during a press briefing, stressing the curfew was necessary to curb vandalism and protect property.
The protests erupted Friday following federal immigration raids that resulted in the detention of dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Demonstrators have since blocked highways, set vehicles ablaze, and rallied at key federal buildings, prompting a heavy response from law enforcement using tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.
Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency court motion to halt military support for immigration enforcement, arguing that the deployment of troops around federal agents conducting arrests constitutes a “military dragnet” that risks intensifying civil unrest. A federal judge has delayed ruling until a scheduled hearing on Thursday, allowing the operations to continue in the interim.
As of Tuesday, more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines have been activated, despite opposition from state and city officials. While Marines have not yet been seen in the city, Guard personnel have begun protecting immigration officers during operations. Though Guard members are authorized to temporarily detain individuals who assault officers, arrests are to be made by law enforcement agencies.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell justified the curfew, stating, “The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city.” He reported 197 arrests on Tuesday, including 67 individuals detained for occupying the 101 freeway. The majority of arrests were for failure to disperse, but charges also included looting, vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon, and attempted murder in connection with a Molotov cocktail incident. Seven police officers sustained injuries, with two requiring hospital treatment.
Authorities clarified that the curfew exempts local residents, homeless individuals, credentialed media, and emergency personnel.
President Trump has indicated that he may invoke the Insurrection Act, which permits the deployment of active-duty military forces within the U.S. in cases of insurrection or widespread civil disorder. “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see,” the president said from the Oval Office.
Later in a speech at Fort Bragg commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Trump escalated his rhetoric, referring to protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy.” His comments were strongly rebuked by Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass, who criticized the portrayal of Los Angeles as exaggerated and inflammatory.
Protests have remained largely concentrated in downtown Los Angeles, though demonstrations have spread to other major cities including Dallas, Austin, Chicago, and New York City. In New York, thousands rallied and multiple arrests were reported.
As unrest spreads nationwide, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that military deployments within the U.S. are likely to expand. The Pentagon reported the current cost of deploying National Guard and Marine units has reached $134 million.
The coming days are expected to be critical as legal battles unfold, public dissent continues, and federal-local tensions deepen.
