The Trump administration is provoking chaos amid immigration raids, say elected officials

On the third day of protests opposing the unprecedented immigration raids currently taking place in Los Angeles, as many as 10,000 people took over the streets in downtown Los Angeles and part of the 101 freeway by the Los Angeles and Alameda exits. 

The protestors demand that the Trump administration release dozens of immigrants that are detained at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center and stop the arrests. 

The demonstrations began immediately after seven workplaces in Los Angeles and surrounding areas were raided on Friday morning. Initially, the Trump administration said they were looking for criminals and dangerous felons. However, images showed workers in factories and day laborers outside of Home Depots being detained. 

“When this happens, it terrifies people. It sends a sense of fear and chaos in our city,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at a press conference Sunday afternoon. 

Bass, along with Governor Gavin Newsom, are organizing resources while pleading with the Trump administration to rescind the order to federalize the National Guard.

“Los Angeles is a city of immigrants,” said Bass. “But what we're seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration. When you raid Home Depot and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you cause fear and you cause panic.”

Several elected and community leaders have stated that the immigration raids at work places and arrival of the National Guard has nothing to do with public safety. By Saturday morning, 300 soldiers of the National Guard were in Los Angeles. 

Former L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon, author of California's Sanctuary State law SB54, said on social media that the federal response is not leadership.

“It’s provocation. He [Trump] loathes our city. He loathes our values. And he will exploit every opportunity to dismantle our progress,” he wrote. “Donald Trump and his right-hand man Stephen Miller are not responding to a crisis–they are orchestrating one.” 

At the same time he encouraged people not to fall in the provoking tactics by causing vandalism.

However, the message was ignored by several people who started vandalizing the city. On Saturday, authorities reported 30 people detained including two who harmed LAPD officers. Another one was detained for hurting three sheriffs with a molotov cocktail. 

By Sunday evening chaos exploded around Placita Olvera close to Arcadia and Main streets. Telemundo 52 reported several Waymo cars burned. KTLA 5 images showed rioters vandalizing sheriff’s patrols. 

California Gavin Newsom said he has formally requested the Trump administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county. This is the first time a president deploys the National Guard without state request. 

“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” said Newsom via social media. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”

No access to the detained immigrants

On Saturday, Congressmembers Jimmy Gomez, Luz Rivas, Norma Torres and Lou Correa were denied entrance at the Federal Detention Center in downtown L.A. to conduct oversight of the 45 undocumented immigrants detained on Friday.

“Under federal law, we are allowed to do drop-in inspections at any facility that’s holding migrants or undocumented immigrants,” said Gomez when trying to enter the facility.

They were told to wait outside, but moments later, facility officers deployed chemical irritants to push them back.

“I’m demanding [Department of Homeland Security] Secretary Noem launch an immediate investigation. If her agency won’t follow the law, she needs to answer for it.  

In response, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said when lawmakers tried to enter the federal building, more than 1,000 rioters had surrounded the building. 

“They were assaulting ICE law enforcement officers, slashing tires, burning American flags and defacing buildings and taxpayer-funded property.  Due to the rioting, the lawmakers were turned away in the interest of their safety and the safety of our law enforcement,” she said. 

Among the detained is David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW. The union said Huerta was assaulted, injured and detained while advocating for immigrants on Friday. He remains in custody and his arraignment is scheduled for Monday. 

There will be a rally Monday morning starting at 11am in front of L.A. City Hall in Gloria Molina Grand Park. Union members are encouraged to wear their purple shirts.