By Abigael Gioche
Following five consecutive days of unrest sparked by federal immigration enforcement raids, Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, yesterday issued a curfew for Downtown Los Angeles ( LA), effective, June 10, from 8.00 PM to 6.00 AM.
In an X post, Mayor Bass defended the move, “I issued a curfew starting tonight at 8pm for Downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President’s chaotic escalation.”
The still ongoing protests were triggered by a series of controversial ICE operations across Los Angeles, including arrests in the Fashion District and Westlake neighborhoods.
Federal authorities confirmed that 118 individuals were taken into custody over the past week. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the protests turned violent, citing assaults on officers and damage to federal property. ICE reported a 413% increase in assaults on agents during the unrest.
By Monday evening, LAPD had arrested nearly 200 protesters on charges ranging from failure to disperse to assault and looting.
Mayor Bass’s declaration marks a critical moment in the city’s handling of escalating tensions tied to federal immigration policy.
In a public address, the mayor emphasized the need for the curfew, “We can’t allow a few to turn our city into a battleground,” she said.
The emergency order also directs non-residents to stay out of the downtown zone during curfew hours unless they are providing essential services.
The curfew applies to everyone with limited exceptions, including for emergency and medical personnel, residents, workers & credentialed media.
The situation continues to draw national attention as local officials attempt to restore order while navigating the growing friction between city leadership and federal authorities.