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 15, 2025, 4:56 PM GMT

Armed felon arrested at Huntington Beach protest

A person carrying a gun was arrested at the "No Kings Day" protest in Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon.

Eduardo Pineda was arrested after yelling at a pedestrian and threatening to knock that person out in the middle of the street, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department. That confrontation happened just a few blocks from the pier.

A person carrying a gun was arrested at the "No Kings Day" protest in Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon.

He was also carrying a loaded handgun.

Police later learned that Pineda had warrants out for his arrest and is a convicted felon, which means he's not allowed to possess a firearm.

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Jun 15, 2025, 4:16 PM GMT

Fear looms among immigrant community over church gatherings after ICE raid

Some Southern California churches are concerned that recent ICE raids could keep people from gathering for Sunday service. Some perishes are now offering virtual services.

That includes Downey Memorial Christian Church, where ICE took someone into custody on church property last week.

Some Southern California churches are concerned that recent ICE raids could keep people from gathering for Sunday service. Some perishes are now offering virtual services.

Reverend Tanya Lopez said it all unfolded in the parking lot area of the church and called the incident unacceptable. However, she insisted it will not deter them from coming together to worship.

Lopez also said the service will be streamed on Facebook and said there are also options to watch via Zoom.

At Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lincoln Heights, service got underway as normal and there were no plans to livestream it yet.

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Jun 15, 2025, 7:46 PM GMT

38 arrested during "No Kings Day" protest, LAPD says

The Los Angeles Police Department made dozens of arrests Saturday, when tens of thousands of people descended on the downtown area to protest the Trump administration's policies in a series of nationwide demonstrations.

Thirty-five people were arrested for curfew violations, one for failure to disperse, one for resisting, obstructing or delaying a police officer, and one for resisting arrest, according to the department.

Three officers were injured, police added, but details on the extent of those injuries were not provided.

Since the daily demonstrations began on June 7 to protest federal immigration raids in the Los Angeles area, the LAPD has arrested 561 people related to protest activity, according to the department. Twelve officers have been injured, police added.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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Jun 16, 2025, 5:33 PM GMT

Several people taken into custody during immigration raid at Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet

Several people were taken into custody Saturday afternoon during an apparent immigration raid at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet.

The operation unfolded around 3:30 p.m. along Alondra Boulevard, just off the 5 Freeway.

AIR7 was above the scene and captured exclusive video of federal agents on the property, taking people into custody.

Several people were at the swap meet for a Saturday night concert, which was later canceled.

"First of all, it was a little unbelievable because I've been seeing it, and it hadn't directly happened to me," said one visitor. "I don't live in this area, I live in the San Fernando Valley, so to see it firsthand was kind of shocking, but also very disheartening. My father came to this country in 1968 and works very hard. I know a lot of Latinos work really hard, it's just disheartening the amount of fear that they're creating."

One witness said the agents were asking people where they were from.

"I told them I was from the United States, and then they proceeded to walk away, and they took a picture of me with a specialized cellphone camera," he said. "I took it as a personal threat. I have an uncle who served in World War II. I have an uncle who served in Korea."

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that Marines were also present during the raid, but according to the U.S. Department of Defense, there were no Title 10 forces or U.S. Marines present at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet, and the Department of Defense was not involved in the operation. This post has been updated to reflect that correction.