Los Angeles protests: Anti-ICE protests spread across US cities

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Five police officers were injured as clashes erupted between demonstrators and law enforcement. Local news outlet KTLA reported that at least five self-driving Waymo cars were set ablaze. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., announced on Monday that it had pulled its fleet from downtown Los Angeles and temporarily suspended service in the area.

Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass accused President Trump of escalating the unrest by sending hundreds of National Guard troops to the city. Newsom said he had formally requested the White House to revoke what he called an “unlawful” order to federalise the National Guard.

“He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalise the National Guard,” Newsom posted Monday on X. “The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing. We’re suing him.”

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Los Angeles entered its fourth day of unrest, triggered by immigration raids, as tensions between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated. Trump suggested Newsom should be arrested over his handling of the protests, while Newsom responded by suing the administration for sending National Guard troops to the city.

The political clash intensified Monday after Trump endorsed remarks by his border adviser Tom Homan, who had threatened to arrest state and local officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement, naming Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump said at the White House. “I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows that.”

Earlier, Newsom challenged the threat in an NBC interview, saying, “Arrest me, let’s go.”

Meanwhile, overnight protests turned violent in parts of the city, with looting reported in multiple neighbourhoods, including downtown. Demonstrators also blocked a major freeway. The Los Angeles Police Department said it made 31 arrests over the weekend for charges including looting, assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, and attempted murder related to a Molotov cocktail incident.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Australia’s prime minister on Tuesday condemned the "horrific" shooting of an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet during unrest in Los Angeles.

Australian 9News journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet on Sunday while reporting live on air. Her employer confirmed she was sore but otherwise unharmed.

"She is going ok. She is pretty resilient, I have got to say, but that footage was horrific," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters after speaking with Tomasi.

Albanese stressed that the reporter should not have been "targeted" with a rubber bullet while carrying out her work in Los Angeles.

The footage showed she was "clearly identified" as a member of the media, with "no ambiguity," he added.

"We don't find it acceptable that it occurred, and we think the role of the media is particularly important," the prime minister said.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Clouds of tear gas drifted over protesters gathered on a blocked freeway. Federal immigration agents in tactical gear raided businesses searching for undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, a public war of words unfolded between President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom.

Photos showed several Waymo robotaxis torched and graffiti defacing a federal detention centre. Videos captured the crack of rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades fired into crowds.

In a city still recovering from deadly wildfires in January — and with the World Cup and 2028 Olympics fast approaching — Mayor Karen Bass has called on residents to help restore LA’s image by beautifying the city: cleaning streets, planting trees, and painting murals to present Los Angeles in its best light to the world.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: A group of protesters is engaged in a tense standoff with police in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo area, BBC reported.

One demonstrator threw a bottle at officers, while another set off fireworks aimed at them.

Authorities responded by firing stun grenades and reportedly used pepper balls on the crowd.

Police have declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: The Los Angeles protests, initially triggered by immigration raids and the arrest of dozens of immigrants, have now inspired similar demonstrations across the country.

In California, additional protests emerged in Santa Ana and San Francisco, where about 150 people were arrested on Sunday, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, police in New York City reported arresting “multiple people” during anti-ICE demonstrations that blocked traffic in front of federal buildings on Monday.

In Atlanta, a crowd gathered outside the ICE facility on Monday afternoon, calling for the release of detainees, according to video from CNN affiliate WSB.

Protests were also reported on Monday in Louisville, Kentucky, and Dallas.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: In Los Angeles, police in riot gear continue to stand guard at intersections around the city’s Arts District, CNN reported. The atmosphere has calmed compared to about an hour earlier, when a large crowd of protesters had gathered.

Some protesters threw bottles and other objects at officers. When a firework was thrown, police advanced to disperse the crowd, using rubber bullets and flash-bangs, CNN report added.

A few arrests were made as police worked to clear the area. With the crowd thinning, officers were observed holding their positions with zip ties ready.

Protesters who spoke to CNN questioned the deployment of the National Guard, many expressing renewed anger and determination in response to the move.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Protests are currently underway in Austin and Dallas, Texas, in solidarity with demonstrations in Los Angeles, BBC reported.

In Austin, over 100 people marched to the JJ Pickle Federal Building, which is functioning as an ICE facility. Protesters carried signs and flags, chanting “no more ICE” during a standoff with police.

Reports of vandalism emerged as the crowd reached the federal building. In response, Austin police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and warned protesters they would face arrest or be subjected to “chemical agents” if they did not disperse.

Police later used tear gas to break up the crowd.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, around 400 people gathered at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. According to the Dallas Morning News, the demonstration remained largely peaceful.

“LA: Your voice matters. Trump is trying to provoke chaos by sending 4,000 soldiers onto American soil. Foolish agitators who take advantage of Trump’s chaos will be held accountable. Stay safe. Stay calm. Look out for one another,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom on X.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Following a tense 45-minute standoff, police began clearing protesters gathered outside the Federal Building, BBC reported.

As officers advanced, loud bangs were heard, and they deployed stun grenades to push the demonstrators back.

Meanwhile, National Guard members stationed on the building steps moved to street level, maintaining their position with riot shields.

Protesters, though retreating, remained defiant—waving flags just in front of the first line of officers. Soon after, protesters shifted tactics, marching toward police along a side street while chanting, “Peaceful protest.”

In response, police began backing down the street as protesters advanced. Reporters, positioned behind the police line, were instructed along with other media representatives to step back and move to the sidewalk as officers retreated, BBC report added.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: In a post on X moments ago, US Vice-President JD Vance reiterated support for the deployment of troops to curb protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles.

"This administration will not be intimidated by lawlessness," Vance wrote. "President Trump will not back down."

Earlier today, Trump authorised the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to the state. Vance’s comments come as California Governor Gavin Newsom moves to challenge the Trump administration in court over the troop deployment.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: In one of his first acts of his second presidential term, Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of individuals who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to keep him in power — including those who assaulted police officers.

On Monday, Trump issued a warning via social media aimed at demonstrators in Los Angeles protesting his immigration crackdown and confronting police and National Guard members he deployed: “IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!”

The contrast in Trump’s responses to the two events — pardoning rioters who attacked police on January 6, a day he described as “a beautiful day,” while sharply condemning any violence against law enforcement during the Los Angeles protests — highlights how the president holds his political opponents to stricter standards than his own supporters.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Soon after protests erupted across Los Angeles on Friday following federal immigration raids, President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke by phone. According to Newsom, who described the conversation as "very cordial" on MSNBC on Sunday, Trump made no mention of any planned federal response.

Just a day later, Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops to California, bypassing the governor and triggering fresh controversy over his aggressive deportation efforts targeting undocumented migrants.

For Newsom — governor of the nation’s most populous state and a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender — Trump’s move presents significant political risks.

Throughout both of Trump’s terms, Democratic governors have faced challenges in navigating their approach to the unpredictable Republican president. Direct confrontation can provoke backlash, while attempts to accommodate him sometimes embolden him to escalate further.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: Amid growing tensions over immigration protests in Los Angeles and California's continued opposition to federal troop presence, the Pentagon said Monday (local time) that President Trump is deploying an additional 2,000 National Guard members to the city to manage the unrest, AFP reported.

Los Angeles protests LIVE: The Marines and National Guard are not expected to take on law enforcement roles, which are barred by the Posse Comitatus Act. Trump has not used the Insurrection Act to authorise them for such duties, and it remains uncertain whether he plans to.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Monday afternoon that he trusted the department’s capability to manage large-scale protests. He also noted that the uncoordinated arrival of Marines posed a “significant logistical and operational challenge” for the police.

California governor Gavin Newsom said he was informed that President Donald Trump is deploying another 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.

As per a court filing, California has sued the Trump administration over national guard troop deployed in Los Angeles.

The state also said that the national guard deployment was illegal, adding that it violates that state's sovereignty and federal law.

The Los Angeles police department said that it received no formal notification that Marines will be arriving in the County.

California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the "deranged" decision taken by "dictatorial" President Donald Trump to deploy hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles after protests over immigration raids.

The US military is set to temporarily deploy around 700 Marines to Los Angeles while additional National Guard troops arrive in the city, an official told Reuters on Monday.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a battalion would be sent, but for now, the Insurrection Act is not expected to be invoked.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he felt that his administration no choice on national guard other than deploying them to LA amid the protests against immigration raids.

"We did the right thing," he said, adding that "I don't want a civil war".

President Donald Trump on Monday said that he would deploy additional National Guard troops to California if necessary.

California Attorney General Rob Banta reacted to President Donald Trump's comments on Governor Gavin Newsom and said that it is "more bluster, threats".

California governor Gavin Newsom reacted to President Donald Trump's call for his arrest and said that "this is a day I hoped I would never see in America".

"I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism," he said in a post on X.