Los Angeles imposes curfew amid protests against Trump immigration policies

Amid ongoing protests against mass arrests of migrants, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a curfew in the city center from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. The decision comes after five days of demonstrations that included arson and vandalism — 23 businesses were looted on Monday alone.

The protests were sparked by large-scale immigration raids that began on Friday. Protesters blocked highways and set cars on fire. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. A total of 197 people were arrested.

President Donald Trump sent more than 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to the city, despite protests from Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused the president of creating a “military trap.” He also demanded in court to stop using the military to support immigration agents.

Trump said that the Insurrection Act could be used, and called protesters "animals" and "an enemy from abroad." US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth predicted that the military would be used more widely inside the country. According to the Pentagon, the operation has already cost $134 million.