Violent unrest broke out in Los Angeles, California, following US President Donald Trump’s push to increase immigrant arrests. On June 6, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies launched immigration raids across the city to meet the Trump administration’s quota of 3,000 undocumented immigrants detained per day. At least 44 individuals were arrested that day, sparking widespread anger within immigrant communities.
Hundreds of protestors took to the streets, chanting slogans such as “ICE Out of LA” and attempting to storm a detention center. Clashes soon ensued with the police, who declared the gathering unlawful, deployed tactical units and authorized the use of less-lethal munitions to disperse the crowds.
Despite growing public outcry, federal agents continued their operations on June 7. That same day, as community resistance intensified, Trump bypassed California’s state authority and signed a memorandum ordering the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. This move marked the first time since 1965 that a US president activated a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent, breaking long-standing political norms.
Although the unrest was triggered by federal immigration enforcement, it quickly evolved into a broader political unrest. At its core lies a deeper conflict over demographics, labor and identity. More than 35 percent of Los Angeles’ population is foreign-born, many of whom face challenges related to legal status. Despite this, they are vital to the city’s economy, particularly in labor-intensive sectors. The federal intervention disrupted this fragile balance, heightening social tensions.
More fundamentally, the event highlighted the power struggle between federal and state authorities. Under the US Constitution, states possess autonomy in law enforcement, barring arbitrary federal intervention in local matters. Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops without state consent directly challenged constitutional norms and state sovereignty.
The incident also reflected the intensifying partisan divide in the US. Immigration, in particular, has long been a flashpoint in US political polarization. While Democrats tend to be lenient on immigration policies and recognize immigrants’ contributions to society, Republicans often view illegal immigration through a national security lens, advocating for stricter border controls and tougher enforcement. Against this backdrop, Trump’s unilateral action was interpreted as a political maneuver to target Governor Gavin Newsom, a rising Democratic star — using chaos to undermine Democratic influence and score partisan points.
Ultimately, the Los Angeles unrest revealed the underlying fragility of the US political system. As long as leaders continue to manipulate sensitive social issues for partisan gain and dismiss public sentiment as mere political leverage, similar crises are likely to recur. And in such political crossfire, it is ordinary citizens, those caught between political agendas, who suffer the most.
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