Donald Trump Protests Erupt in Los Angeles: Live Updates, Road Closures, and How to Stay Safe

Downtown Los Angeles braced for another tense night on Wednesday as protests against President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration raids entered their fifth day, drawing thousands of demonstrators, a sweeping curfew, and an unprecedented military presence. City officials ordered residents and visitors to clear streets by 7 p.m. after clashes flared near City Hall and Pershing Square, where police fired pepper balls and made more than 200 arrests for curfew violations and vandalism. Protesters are denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweeps that have led to hundreds of detentions across Los Angeles County since June 7, as well as Trump’s decision to federalize the California National Guard and fly in 700 Marines to secure federal buildings. Governor Gavin Newsom blasted the deployment as a “brazen abuse of power” and said the state is exploring legal options to challenge what he called an “occupying force” on California soil. The White House insists the troops are necessary to protect federal personnel after several ICE field offices were vandalized in Boyle Heights and Van Nuys. Key developments • Curfew: 7 p.m.–5 a.m. citywide; violators face misdemeanor charges and $1,000 fines. • Troop numbers: 2,000 National Guard soldiers plus 700 Marines now stationed at Union Station, the federal courthouse, and the ICE detention facility in Downtown LA. • Arrests: LAPD confirms 645 protest-related arrests since Saturday, mostly for curfew violations and failure to disperse. • Traffic: I-110 and US-101 connectors into downtown may close without notice; Metro rail service is suspended after 6 p.m. How protests evolved Saturday, June 7: Demonstrators organized by immigrant-rights groups march through Paramount and Compton after early-morning ICE raids; LAPD uses tear gas for the first time since 2020 unrest. Sunday: Crowds swell to an estimated 25,000 outside City Hall; Trump cites “violent anarchists” and invokes the Insurrection Act’s troop-mobilization authority. Monday: National Guard convoys roll down Figueroa Street; sporadic looting occurs in the Fashion District before police restore order. Tuesday: Marines land at Los Alamitos Base and are bussed into downtown. Protesters stage sit-ins along Spring Street; drone footage shows soldiers establishing perimeter checkpoints. Wednesday: City institutes earlier curfew amid rumors of additional ICE operations targeting Koreatown and Pacoima. What protesters are demanding 1. An immediate halt to the “Operation Fortress” ICE raids. 2. Withdrawal of all federal troops and Guard members. 3. Passage of the California Sanctuary Expansion Act, currently stalled in the state senate. 4. Independent investigation into use of force by LAPD and federal agents. Safety tips for residents • Monitor @LADOEM and @LAPDHQ on X for real-time street closures. • Keep identification handy; roadblocks now require ID proof of residence. • Stock essentials before 6 p.m.—most grocery stores and pharmacies are closing early. • If detained, request legal counsel; several pro-bono hotlines have set up 24/7 assistance. What happens next City Council will hold an emergency session Thursday morning to vote on a resolution demanding the immediate removal of federal forces. Civil-rights groups, including the ACLU of Southern California, plan to file for injunctive relief in federal court by Friday. Meanwhile, organizers have called for a “Day of Silence” march down Wilshire Boulevard at noon Thursday, vowing to continue demonstrating “until the troops go home.” For Angelenos and observers nationwide, the showdown between state officials and the Trump administration is shaping up to be a defining battle over immigration policy and federal authority. Whether calm can return to Los Angeles hinges on fast-moving negotiations—on the streets, in courtrooms, and behind closed doors in Sacramento and Washington.