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 16, 2025, 10:45 PM GMT

Downtown LA businesses deal with aftermath of anti-ICE protests

Tensions in Southern California could flare up again as President Donald Trump pushes to expand the ICE raids that triggered days of protests, and local businesses are caught in the middle of it all.

Tensions in Southern California could flare up again as President Donald Trump pushes to expand the ICE raids that triggered days of protests, and local businesses are caught in the middle of it all.

While Trump posted a long missive in which he says he'll expand immigration raids to cities like Chicago and New York, in Los Angeles, the cleanup continues.

The Little Tokyo area in downtown L.A. was the hardest hit by the anti-ICE protests. The small businesses here are paying the price.

"We lost about 50% to 60%... that's a huge amount," said Rico Alsaffarini, who has owned Mike's Deli for the past 15 years.

The demonstrations over the last couple of weeks haven't just cost him lost business, but he also has to replace his windows. His neighboring business has had its windows boarded up for nearly a week now.

"It's money wasted and it seems like I'm closed," said Cos Trujillo, from Aid & Abet Bail Bonds.

Trujillo said his bail bond business had already been suffering since the COVID-19 pandemic. He says the recent protests have made things even worse, which is frustrating since his own grandfather immigrated here from Mexico.

"I support them 100%. I brought my family to come to the protest on Saturday, and we marched, peacefully," said Trujillo. "So it's frustrating to see these kids that come after the protests, that are peaceful protests for the most part, and they come and destroy property and vandalize."

Signs hang throughout Little Tokyo professing the community's deep ties to immigration. But that message didn't even keep the Los Angeles Immigration & Photo Services business from getting tagged.

For many of the business owners caught in the middle, supporting the protest against immigration raids is getting harder as they deal with more and more damage.

"Please, please do not destroy or vandalize our community," Trujillo said.

Since June 7, LAPD has made 575 protest-related arrests, including 14 for looting.

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Jun 16, 2025, 10:34 PM GMT

LA Mayor Karen Bass reduces curfew hours within downtown LA

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday reduced the curfew hours for downtown L.A. following what her office is calling "successful crime prevention and suppression efforts."

The curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., in the DTLA zone bounded by the 5, 10 and 110 freeways.

"The curfew, coupled with ongoing crime prevention efforts, have been largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community," Mayor Bass said. "Today, I am narrowing the curfew as we continue to quickly adjust to changing posturing out of Washington. I want the Downtown Los Angeles community of residents, business owners and events venues to know that my priority will continue to be ensuring safety, stability and support in the Downtown neighborhoods."

"We're committed to supporting Downtown L.A. residents, small businesses, and workers while standing proudly with our immigrant communities and peaceful demonstrators who make our city vibrant and strong," said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents neighborhoods within the curfew area. "Pushing the curfew start time is a step in the right direction."

The curfew area covers downtown Los Angeles and represents less than eight square miles of the city. Hundreds of officers from various law enforcement agencies across the region and state collaborated with the LAPD over the weekend for the No Kings Day protests.

Jun 16, 2025, 8:48 PM GMT

Couple gets engaged in front of police line during LA protest

A couple got engaged in front of a police line during a "No Kings" protest in Los Angeles on Saturday, video shows.

The video, taken by CalMatters reporter Sergio Olmos, shows a woman showing off her ring as she's picked up by her fiancé. Armed police - some on horseback - are seen lined up a couple of feet behind the couple.

A couple got engaged in front of a police line during a "No Kings" protest in Los Angeles on Saturday, video shows.
Jun 16, 2025, 6:12 PM GMT

LAPD made no arrests Sunday night - a first since protests started

For the first time since protests against immigration raids started in Los Angeles, the LAPD made no arrests on Sunday night, according to the agency.

Since June 7, LAPD has made 575 arrests related to protest activity. The agency says it remains on a city-wide tactical alert.