Tensions flared for a third consecutive night in downtown Los Angeles as protests against federal immigration raids escalated into violent clashes, prompting police to issue dispersal orders late Sunday.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in opposition to ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. 

The protests quickly grew confrontational, with groups blocking sections of the 101 Freeway and defying repeated orders from law enforcement to clear the area.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that several self-driving vehicles were set ablaze amid the chaos, describing the situation as “volatile and highly dangerous.”

In response to the escalating unrest, National Guard units were deployed under the directive of President Donald Trump, who defended the move as necessary to ensure "law and order." 

Tear gas and flashbangs were used to push back demonstrators near key intersections and government buildings.

“The National Guard will make sure our communities are safe,” Trump posted on social media, doubling down on his administration’s zero-tolerance approach to immigration enforcement.

However, California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the deployment, calling it an “unconstitutional use of federal force” and warning that the state may take legal action against the administration.

“We will not stand by as our communities are militarized,” Newsom said during a press conference in Sacramento. “California will explore all legal avenues to stop this unlawful occupation.”

Protesters chanted slogans condemning both the immigration raids and the federal troop presence. Several arrests were made, though no serious injuries have been reported.

Source: BBC

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