In an unprecedented escalation, U.S. authorities declared downtown Los Angeles an “unlawful assembly zone” following three consecutive days of clashes between protesters angry over strict immigration policies and law enforcement officers. The decision came amid rising tensions sparked by measures implemented by President Donald Trump, prompting thousands of demonstrators to flood the streets and shut down several key facilities.

In the early hours of Monday (local time), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), urging protesters to evacuate the area immediately. The LAPD reported that the situation spiraled out of control after “many participants turned violent,” attacking buildings and police vehicles.

Arrests and Clashes in San Francisco
Simultaneously, the San Francisco Police Department announced it had arrested approximately 60 individuals on Sunday night during confrontations with demonstrators opposing Trump’s anti-immigration policies.

In an official statement, the police said:

“Individuals always have the right to exercise their freedoms under the First Amendment of the Constitution, but violence — especially against San Francisco police officers — will never be tolerated.”

Trump Intervenes... Deploys National Guard
Amid widespread controversy, President Donald Trump issued direct orders to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, bypassing the authority of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who expressed staunch opposition to the decision.

In a press statement, Trump declared:

“The National Guard has been deployed to restore order and enforce the law... We will not tolerate any attacks on them, and we will be very strict in maintaining order.”

He added that the situation might require the deployment of U.S. Marines and said he would not allow the country to be "dragged into chaos" as it was under former President Joe Biden.

“What we’ve seen in Los Angeles is a lot of violence under an incompetent state governor… I will do what it takes to protect the nation,” Trump said.

California Governor Vows to Sue the President
In response to Trump’s order, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would file a lawsuit against the president, asserting that the deployment of the National Guard constitutes a clear violation of state sovereignty.

On his X account, Newsom wrote:

“Trump lit the match, then unlawfully federalized the National Guard… The order does not apply to California, and we will sue.”

Newsom also formally requested the cancellation of the deployment in a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which he shared publicly. He added:

“We had no problem until Trump interfered… This is a dangerous provocation. Cancel the order and return control to California.”

Protest Suppression and Rising Tensions
The demonstrations, initially sparked by mass arrests of undocumented immigrants, quickly escalated into violent confrontations. White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller described the unrest as an “insurrection” and criticized the LAPD chief for refusing to participate in deportation operations.

Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse the crowds, further inflaming protestors who viewed Trump’s intervention as a direct affront to local autonomy in California.