Officials in Los Angeles have enacted a curfew covering a portion of Downtown after several days of protests sparked by ICE raids led to escalating civil unrest.
Mayor Karen Bass announced during a Tuesday press conference that the curfew would be in effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The move, she said, aims “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.”
Bass noted that a curfew had been under consideration for several days, but Monday night’s events — including the looting of 23 businesses and widespread property damage — marked a turning point.
“We reached a tipping point,” she said. “I will be consulting with elected officials and law enforcement tomorrow regarding whether the curfew should continue, but we fully expect it to remain in place for several days.”
The order applies to a one-square-mile area of Downtown Los Angeles. Exceptions will be made for local residents, commuters traveling to and from work, and credentialed journalists.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell made clear that those found in the curfew zone during restricted hours without an exemption will face arrest.
“This curfew is necessary to protect lives and property after several consecutive days of growing unrest across the city,” McDonnell said.
Tuesday marked the fifth day of demonstrations. According to the Associated Press, a peaceful gathering in front of the federal detention center was quickly declared an unlawful assembly.
Earlier in the day, California Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency request with a federal court to block the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. Newsom warned the military presence would exacerbate tensions and fuel further unrest.
The request followed President Trump’s order to send approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA in response to protests over his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement.
Federal officials countered that Newsom’s request was “unprecedented and dangerous,” arguing it would hinder federal enforcement efforts. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Thursday.
In a public address Tuesday evening, Newsom condemned Trump’s decision, calling it a “brazen abuse of power” and accusing the president of prioritizing political theater over public safety.
He criticized the administration’s deportation tactics, saying they target not just criminals but also working-class immigrant families — including “dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers and seamstresses.”
“Everyday Angelenos were peacefully exercising their constitutional rights,” Newsom said. “The situation was de-escalating — but that’s not what Donald Trump wanted. He chose force instead.”
Newsom warned that California may be the first target, but it likely won’t be the last.
“This won’t stop here,” he said.
