Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles

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Last updated: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 5:54AM GMT
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- President Trump is calling for even more expanded deportation operations in several major cities across the country, including Los Angeles.

Trump in a social media posting called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials "to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History."

The moves comes after large protests erupted in L.A. and other major cities against the Trump administration's immigration policies.

So far, it's not known how exactly that will impact L.A. But Sunday, at the president's directions, the Department of Homeland Security said it would pause most raids on farms, restaurants and hotels.

The Trump administration has continued widespread immigration enforcement activities -- with a reported goal of up to 3,000 deportations per day.

The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested 575 people related to protest activity since they started earlier this month, police said Sunday, including 14 for looting.

Last week, President Donald Trump deployed 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines to tamp down the disruptive demonstrations while the immigration raids continue.

A federal court hearing is set for Tuesday to determine whether Trump or California Gov. Gavin Newsom will control future National Guard activity going forward. Newsom challenged Trump's decision to federalize the Guard, an action U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco said in a ruling last week did not follow congressionally mandated procedure.

His ruling was stayed by a three-judge appellate panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in response to a Trump administration notice of appeal, temporarily keeping the National Guard troops under federal control, at least through Tuesday.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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Jun 10, 2025, 4:31 AM GMT

Number of National Guard troops in LA rises to 1,700

The number of National Guard troops on the ground in the Los Angeles area has risen from 300 to 1,700, the Defense Department said in an update Monday evening.

The guardsmen are from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California National Guard unit. They are operating under Task Force 51, which also includes 700 Marines, to protect federal personnel and property, U.S. NORTHCOM said in a statement.

President Donald Trump's memo over the weekend authorized a deployment of 2,000 National Guardsmen amid unrest during protests over immigration enforcement in the LA area.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday he had been informed Trump planned to deploy an additional 2,000 National Guard troops.

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Jun 10, 2025, 4:32 AM GMT

FBI identifies suspect wanted for throwing rocks at officers, police vehicles

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified a man who is wanted for throwing rocks at police and law enforcement vehicles during the protest in Paramount on Saturday.

The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Elpidio Reyna, from nearby Compton, and is wanted for assault on a federal officer, according to the FBI.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information about the suspect, leading to his arrest and conviction.

The incident happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the FBI, when the suspect threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, injuring a federal officer and damaging government vehicles.

A wanted poster issued by the FBI, June, 8, 2025.
A wanted poster issued by the FBI, June, 8, 2025.
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Jun 10, 2025, 2:14 AM GMT

LA mayor to Trump: 'Stop the raids'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called on the Trump administration to stop immigration raids in the city, saying the fear and uncertainty they have created have led to the unrest.

"I am hopeful that the federal government will hear our plea: Stop the raids," Bass said. "This is creating fear and chaos in our city, and it is unnecessary. And I hope that we will be heard because our city is trying to move forward and I believe that the federal government should be supportive of us moving forward."

Bass said she spoke to members of the Trump administration over the weekend, urging the federal government not to deploy the National Guard. Bass said she has not spoken directly to President Donald Trump.

"It makes me feel like our city is actually a test case, a test case for what happens when the federal government moves in and takes the authority away from the state or away from local government," she told reporters during a news conference Monday. "I don't think that our city should be used for an experiment."

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Jun 10, 2025, 2:01 AM GMT

LAPD chief says Marines being deployed 'risks confusion'

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell acknowledged the deployment of 700 Marines to the city and said that it presents a "logistical challenge" and "risks confusion."

McDonnell and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke at a press conference Monday while hundreds of protesters remain in downtown L.A.

"We're also aware of reports that the President intends or has deployed US Marines to Los Angeles. The introduction of federal military personnel without direct coordination creates logistical challenges and risks confusion during a critical incident," McDonnell said of the Trump administration's decision.

McDonnell also said the LAPD has mobilized officers, allowing them to deploy an additional 400 officers to the scene.