Protests against United States President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration tactics spread across the country on Thursday, with California preparing for a courtroom showdown over the unprecedented deployment of military forces for immigration enforcement.
In Los Angeles, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched peacefully for a sixth consecutive day, though the city maintained its second night of curfew following earlier incidents of vandalism and looting.
“I would say for the most part everything is hunky dory right here at Ground Zero,” said 66-year-old retired teacher Lynn Sturgis. “Our city is not at all on fire, it’s not burning down, as our terrible leader is trying to tell you.”
The protests erupted after Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched aggressive raids targeting undocumented migrants. While mostly peaceful, some demonstrations turned violent, including attacks on self-driving taxis and clashes with police.
Similar unrest prompted Spokane, Washington to declare a nighttime curfew after police arrested over 30 protesters and used pepper balls to disperse crowds, according to Police Chief Kevin Hall.
Trump, who won reelection partly on promises to crack down on illegal immigration, has ordered 4,700 troops to California despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections—marking the first such presidential deployment in decades.
“We’re going to have a safe country,” Trump declared. “We’re not going to have what would have happened in Los Angeles. Remember, if I wasn’t there… Los Angeles would have been burning to the ground.”
Approximately 1,000 troops are currently assisting ICE operations, with another 700 Marines training for civil disturbance response, according to Deputy Commanding General Scott Sherman. The Pentagon estimates the deployment will cost $134 million.
Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, accused Trump of political theater: “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes.” California lawyers were set to argue in court Thursday for an injunction blocking military participation in immigration arrests, a move Trump administration lawyers dismissed as a “crass political stunt.”
Protests continued nationwide, with demonstrations reported in St. Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis, Denver and San Antonio—where Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed state National Guard units.
The crisis escalated Wednesday with reports of armed, masked men making arrests in Los Angeles suburbs. A Downey pastor recounted how five armed men in out-of-state vehicles detained a Spanish-speaking man in her church parking lot.
“They did point their rifle at me and said, ‘You need to get back,'” the pastor told KTLA after challenging the unidentified operatives.
As tensions mount, activists are preparing for a nationwide “No Kings” protest on Saturday—coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday and a controversial military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blamed the administration for provoking unrest: “A week ago, everything was peaceful in the city of Los Angeles… This was provoked by the White House.”