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

KABC
Last updated: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 5:54AM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News
24/7 Coverage of Breaking News and Live Events

24/7 Coverage of Breaking News and Live Events

ABC7 Eyewitness News

Stream Southern California's News Leader and Original Shows 24/7

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.

Jun 08, 2025, 2:24 PM GMT

Trump praises National Guard as Bass, Newsom believe deployment will escalate tensions

President Trump took to Truth Social Saturday night, praising the National Guard for their work, even though troops hadn't arrived in Los Angeles yet, a note Mayor Karen Bass was quick to point out.

Thousands of troops could be deployed for a duration of 60 days, and the Trump administration said immigration enforcement operations in L.A. will continue.

Aside from Bass, Gov. Gavin Newsom also doesn't believe the National Guard deployment is necessary, calling it "purposefully inflammatory" believing it will "only escalate tensions."

Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has threatened to deploy active-duty Marines, a move Newsom called "deranged."

Thousands of troops could be deployed for a duration of 60 days, and the Trump administration said immigration enforcement operations in L.A. will continue.
KABC
Jun 08, 2025, 2:36 PM GMT

National Guard troops begin to arrive in LA

The California National Guard arrived in downtown Los Angeles early Sunday morning, stopping in front of the Hall of Justice next to city hall.

New video shows troops driving through Paramount, near Alondra and Orange.

President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops despite the governor's objections to L.A., where protests led to clashes between immigration authorities and demonstrators.
KABC
Jun 08, 2025, 8:11 AM GMT

LA Mayor Karen Bass reacts to clashes between protesters, agents

During a live interview with ABC7, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke about the protests that erupted across the county Saturday.

Bass said she respected the right to protest but "under no circumstances is violence acceptable and when violence happens it's going to be dealt with."

When asked about Trump deploying 2,000 National Guard members, Bass said she was concerned the federal government has nationalized the national guard and we could have troops in our city."

" I do not believe that it's called for because I am confident LAPD and other law enforcement in Los Angeles can handle things in Los Angeles."

During a live interview with ABC7, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke about the protests that erupted across the county Saturday.
KABC
Jun 08, 2025, 7:24 AM GMT

Officers form skirmish line to disperse protesters in DTLA

Video from the scene showed officers forming a skirmish line in an effort to disperse protesters in downtown Los Angeles Saturday evening.

The clash between protesters and authorities was still active late Saturday night despite orders from the Los Angeles Police Department to disperse and warning of facing arrest.

A crowd of protesters was seen on the corner of First and Alameda streets in downtown targeting patrol cars with hard objects.

At one point, an LAPD patrol car was caught in the middle of the crowd and protesters began kicking and smashing the rear window of it.

An LAPD patrol car was caught in the middle of the crowd during the downtown L.A. protest. Protesters began kicking and attempting to smash the rear window of it.