Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on Tuesday, June 10, that an emergency curfew will be in effect in downtown Los Angeles starting tonight in response to rising tensions in demonstrations following recent immigration raids and the deployment of federal troops in the area.
This restriction will apply from 8:00 p.m. local time until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning and covers an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers in the center of the city. Authorities have not defined how many days the measure will remain active, although it is expected to be extended for several days if tensions do not ease.
Curfew in Los Angeles
The decision was taken after five consecutive days of protests and riots, including acts of vandalism such as looting of businesses and road blockades.
As reported by the mayor in a press conference, “the curfew has been under consideration for several days, but clearly, after the violence that took place last night (Monday), 23 businesses looted, and just the widespread and generalized nature of the vandalism, we reached a tipping point and declared a state of emergency and called for a curfew”.
There are exceptions to the measure
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell detailed that the only people exempt from the curfew are residents within the designated area, homeless people, accredited media, as well as public safety and emergency services workers.
He also reported that 67 people were arrested on Tuesday for blocking Highway 101 during a demonstration.
The protests were sparked last Friday after a series of immigration raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has generated an atmosphere of tension throughout the city, especially in migrant communities.
Newsom accuses Trump of forcing curfew
Donald Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets.
Illegally, and for no reason.
This brazen abuse of power by a sitting President inflamed a combustible situation… pic.twitter.com/Xy8JHMq3cV
– Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 11, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom accused U.S. President Donald Trump of “inflaming” the situation in Los Angeles by sending thousands of military personnel, forcing new protests and acts of vandalism that have led the city to impose a nighttime curfew today.
As Newsom said in a televised address, Trump’s decision to send the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, despite local authorities’ belief that the protests were under control, “inflamed a potentially explosive situation” and ultimately led to further violence.
For his part, Trump has defended his decision by stating that it was necessary to “restore order.”
The president claims that the military deployments are intended to protect citizens and federal infrastructure, although local leaders accuse him of unnecessarily escalating the conflict for political reasons.
Context of the protests
Buzzy
The protests erupted last Friday, June 6, after ICE executed several raids in areas with a high concentration of immigrant population, mainly in neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Compton and Koreatown.
Dozens of arrests were reported, including workers with no criminal record.
The Latino community in Los Angeles, which represents about 49% of the city’s population, has been deeply concerned about recent immigration policies.
Community leaders warn that the measures could have a paralyzing effect on entire neighborhoods, generating fear, distrust and economic damage.
Meanwhile, civil rights organizations have begun to document possible human rights violations and have set up legal support lines for those detained during protests or raids.
We reached a tipping point and declared a state of emergency and called for a curfew
