Protests in Los Angeles significantly escalated over the weekend, beginning Friday, June 6, 2025, and intensifying through Sunday, June 9, in response to recent immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The situation was further inflamed by President Donald Trump's decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard members to the area, a move that Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, vehemently criticized as unnecessary, inflammatory, and an abuse of power.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets, converging on key locations such as City Hall, the federal courthouse, and the Metropolitan Detention Center, where many detained immigrants were reportedly held. Demonstrations also led to major disruptions, including the shutdown of the 101 Freeway, a critical artery for Californian transit. While many protests began peacefully, tensions flared, leading to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Reports and eyewitness accounts detailed instances of cars, including Waymo self-driving vehicles, being set on fire, protesters throwing objects like rocks and commercial-grade fireworks at police vehicles and officers, and widespread graffiti with anti-ICE and anti-police messages.

Law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, National Guard troops, ICE, and DHS agents, responded with force. Measures to disperse crowds included the use of tear gas, pepper balls, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and flash-bang devices. CNN reporters witnessed officers striking and pushing protesters. Finneas, a musician and brother of Billie Eilish, reported being tear-gassed at what he described as a "very peaceful" protest. Numerous arrests were made throughout the weekend.

Governor Newsom condemned Trump's deployment of the National Guard as a "serious breach of state sovereignty" and formally requested the administration to withdraw the troops, arguing that local law enforcement was sufficient. Mayor Bass echoed these sentiments, stating the deployment was "the last thing Los Angeles needs" and that it could tear the city apart. In contrast, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized Newsom, suggesting that if he were doing his job, the situation would not have escalated. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell initially stated he would not have requested National Guard assistance but later commented that the situation had "gotten out of control," causing him to reevaluate. He also asserted that those engaged in violence were not the primary demonstrators against immigration raids but habitual agitators.

The deployment of federalized National Guard troops by a president is a rare event, with parallels drawn to the 1992 LA riots. Critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, expressed concerns that such actions were moving the country towards authoritarianism. The White House stated the military would remain until order was restored, and reports indicated that an additional 500 Marines were on standby. Democratic Congresswoman Nanette Barragán revealed that officials were told to prepare for approximately 30 days of heightened ICE enforcement in California.

The protests stemmed from President Trump's intensified closed border policy, which has led to increased ICE raids across the country, targeting locations previously considered sensitive, such as courthouses. The weekend's events highlighted deep divisions and raised serious questions about federal overreach, states' rights, and the methods used to manage civil unrest and immigration enforcement.