Tensions over President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies have reached a boiling point, with nationwide protests flaring and California preparing for a high-stakes legal battle over the president’s controversial decision to deploy military forces.
In Los Angeles, more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on Wednesday for the sixth consecutive day of protests, marching peacefully through the streets of America’s second-largest city. The demonstrations, largely nonviolent, have been sparked by an abrupt intensification of efforts to apprehend undocumented migrants.
The city remains under a second night of curfew as authorities attempt to curb sporadic acts of vandalism and looting, which have affected limited areas of the sprawling 500-square-mile metropolis.
“I would say for the most part everything is hunky dory right here at Ground Zero,” said Lynn Sturgis, a 66-year-old retired schoolteacher and protester. “Our city is not at all on fire. It’s not burning down, as our terrible leader is trying to tell you.”
Despite largely peaceful demonstrations, isolated incidents — including the torching of self-driving taxis and clashes with police — have tested the resolve of the Los Angeles Police Department, which has deployed 8,500 officers to manage the unrest.
Elsewhere, protests have prompted curfews and arrests. In Spokane, Washington, over 30 protesters were detained, and police fired pepper balls to disperse crowds, according to Police Chief Kevin Hall.
The uproar comes as President Trump leans into the immigration issue that fueled his 2024 reelection campaign, framing it as a defense against what he describes as an “invasion” of undocumented migrants. Ignoring objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump ordered the deployment of 4,700 National Guard troops to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations — the first such federal action in decades.
“We’re going to have a safe country,” Trump told reporters ahead of a performance of Les Misérables in Washington. “If I wasn’t there, Los Angeles would have been burning to the ground.”
Roughly 1,000 of the deployed troops are actively supporting ICE agents, while others — including 700 Marines — are preparing for potential civil unrest, said Deputy Commanding General Scott Sherman. The Pentagon estimates the operation will cost U.S. taxpayers $134 million.
Governor Newsom, a Democrat considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, accused the Trump administration of using the crisis to stoke political division. “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes,” he warned, adding that the militarization could spread beyond California’s borders.
California officials are expected in court Thursday to seek a restraining order preventing troops from accompanying ICE agents during arrests. In response, Trump administration lawyers dismissed the lawsuit as a “crass political stunt.”
Protests Spread Nationwide
Despite Trump’s threats to extend military support to other Democrat-led states, demonstrators remained resolute. Protests erupted in cities including St. Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis, Denver, and San Antonio — where Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also deployed National Guard troops.
A nationwide protest branded the “No Kings” movement is planned for Saturday, coinciding with a rare military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary — and President Trump’s 79th birthday.
Local Leaders Push Back
While the Trump administration has characterized the protests as a national threat requiring military intervention, local officials insist the crisis is politically manufactured.
“A week ago, everything was peaceful in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Things began to deteriorate on Friday when raids took place. That is the cause of the problems. This was provoked by the White House.”
Reports of masked and heavily armed men making arrests continued Wednesday, further inflaming tensions. In the LA suburb of Downey, a local pastor described how five men in out-of-state vehicles detained a Spanish-speaking man in her church parking lot. When she attempted to intervene, the men refused to identify themselves and pointed a rifle at her.
“They did point their rifle at me and said, ‘You need to get back,’” the pastor, identified only as Lopez, told local station KTLA.
As legal and political tensions intensify, Saturday’s protests are expected to serve as a bellwether for the nation’s stance on immigration, militarization, and the boundaries of executive power.