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By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Tensions reached a boiling point in downtown Los Angeles Sunday morning as a heavy military presence emerged following two days of protests triggered by a wave of federal immigration raids in the city.
At the center of the unrest is a controversial operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that began on Friday in DTLA and Westlake, detaining over 40 individuals — including a local labor union president. The crackdown continued Saturday with raids in Paramount, sparking heated protests in both Paramount and neighboring Compton, where demonstrators set a vehicle ablaze and clashed with law enforcement.
By 4 a.m. Sunday, National Guard troops — deployed by President Donald Trump late Saturday — began arriving at key federal sites including the Federal Building and Hall of Justice, both adjacent to Los Angeles City Hall. Despite the military activity, Mayor Karen Bass insisted the Guard had not been formally deployed within the city.
The response follows destructive protests outside the Federal Detention Center, where demonstrators believe some of the newly detained are being held. Several advocates, legal reps, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) attempted to gain access to the facility to check on detainees but were turned away, adding to public frustration.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented escalation,” said KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw. “This goes beyond law enforcement — this is full-scale military visibility in the heart of L.A.”
📢 A formal rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. today, but spontaneous demonstrations have already started across various neighborhoods.
The federal intervention has fueled a political standoff. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory.” President Trump responded on social media, saying,
“If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs… then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
📸 In scenes captured by Key News Network, flames from a white sedan lit up an intersection in Paramount, while protesters waving Mexican flags confronted riot police in gas masks. In Compton, AP images show federal agents inspecting vehicles and holding positions around burning debris.
As of Sunday morning, tensions remain high and the situation fluid, with local officials urging calm while federal forces brace for what may be another volatile day of protests.
For continuing updates on this developing story, stay with Newspot Nigeria, your trusted global window on breaking news.
