On Friday, June 6, 2025, protests against immigration raids started in Los Angeles, California after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered several city locations to arrest and detain undocumented immigrants.
Over the course of several days, ICE agents conducted raids at multiple worksites, including clothing warehouses and public areas throughout Southern California, resulting in the detention of over 100 individuals. As agents moved in, crowds of people showed up, blocked ICE vehicles, and called for the release of those who had been detained.
Clashes between protesters and ICE agents in riot gear occurred near the Westlake Home Depot. Tensions escalated after some protesters reportedly threw pieces of broken concrete at law enforcement, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to respond with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang devices in efforts to break up the crowd.
By around 7 p.m. local time, roughly 200 demonstrators were still gathered at the site when LAPD issued an official order to disperse. About an hour later, officers were given approval to deploy less-lethal crowd control weapons. Shortly after, at 8:24 p.m., a citywide tactical alert was declared.
Witnesses reported that ICE agents arrived in tactical gear, used tear gas and flash-bang devices, and detained workers without providing clear explanations or warrants in some cases. In a statement on June 7, ICE claims it will “continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens.” ICE claims that all actions taken were lawful and that the use of force was necessary due to escalating protests and public obstruction.
Among those arrested was David Huerta, president of SEIU California, a union that has long advocated for immigrant workers’ rights. Huerta was tackled and injured by officers while participating in a peaceful demonstration. His arrest sent shockwaves through California’s labor movement, with union leaders calling it a direct attack on organized labor and immigrant solidarity.
In response to the raids, Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the actions as “reckless and cruel,” while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the raids “terrorizing” and pledged legal challenges against the federal government, saying, “We will not stand for this.”
Meanwhile, President Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city has only fueled tensions, raising serious constitutional questions about federal overreach into state authority.
Democrats across the country have sharply pushed back against the administration’s move to federalize the National Guard. In fact, all 23 Democratic governors released a statement condemning Trump’s move to federalize California’s National Guard under a rarely used law, calling the decision both unnecessary and an escalation.
The true cost of these raids is being felt most acutely by immigrant women, children, and families, many of whom are now without primary breadwinners or caregivers. Advocates warn that the trauma inflicted on these families will have long-term consequences, especially for undocumented women already facing workplace exploitation, gender-based violence, and systemic barriers to accessing healthcare, housing, and education.
For many Californians, these raids are not just about immigration, they’re about dignity, family, and the right to live free from fear.
