President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law on the 4th of July, carries significant ramifications for immigration enforcement.

The legislation “permanently” secures borders by “finishing the border wall and hiring thousands of new ICE officers and Border Patrol agents,” according to an announcement on the White House website. Around $170 billion has been set aside for immigration enforcement, with $45 billion going toward an additional 100,000 beds in ICE facilities.

While in Los Angeles to mark the six-month anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom reacted to the MacArthur Park operation in a joint press conference with Mayor Karen Bass.

“What a disgrace, what’s happening in MacArthur Park. What theater,” he said. “On the six-month anniversary, after all, of these fires. … That’s the message from the polluted heart of the President of the United States. The polluted heart of [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Stephen Miller.”

“Those National Guard men and women that were out there protecting people [during wildfires] are now being used as political pawns,” he continued. “Out there on horseback, running through soccer fields in the middle of the day. Timed around announcements and events like this. Says everything you and I need to know about the state of mind of the President of the United States and this administration.”

The governor’s comments came hours after Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino told FOX11 Los Angeles that he “doesn’t work for Karen Bass, adding: “Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”

In response, Newsom sarcastically called Bovino a “tough guy.”

“He does work for us. He may want to check his pay stub,” Newsom added. “He’s a public servant. We’re taxpayers. He works for the people of the United States of America.”

Newsom also reaffirmed his support for those affected by the January wildfires and recent ICE raids, vowing to protect California’s “diverse communities” and “push back against this cruelty” by the Trump administration.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has condemned the MacArthur Park ICE operation in a video posted to her official social media accounts.

“Frankly, it is outrageous and un-American that we have federal armed vehicles in our parks when nothing is going on in the parks,” Bass said. “It’s outrageous and un-American that the federal government seized our state’s National Guard. It’s outrageous and un-American that we have U.S. Marines who are trained to kill foreign soldiers overseas deployed in our American city.”

In an interview with MeidasTouch, an independent media outlet, Bass called the operation “an egregious show of force.”

“Los Angeles was peaceful before June 5. We need to go back to that,” she concluded.

2:45 p.m. PT: Hours after a reported raid by federal agents, a few dozen people stayed at MacArthur Park protesting the operation, chanting “Peaceful protest!” and “The people united will never be divided!”

Signs taped to nearby electrical boxes had warned of the planned operation. Posted in both English and Spanish, they read, “Reports say la migra/ICE is raiding MacArthur Park July 7. Avoid the area if possible.”

Federal agents arrived in McArthur Park Monday morning as part of an effort to raid a neighborhood with a large immigrant population. They were accompanied by roughly 90 California National Guard troops and “over a dozen military vehicles” for protection, according to the Associated Press.

Videos from the local news outlet L.A. Taco showed Border Patrol agents and militarized officers on horseback setting up a perimeter around 11 a.m. PT. They were met by a group of protesters and left the area at approximately 11:18 a.m., traveling west on Wilshire Boulevard.

LA Mayor Karen Bass was briefly on the scene and took a phone call with the head of Customs and Border Protection. In a video from KTTV FOX11, Bass is heard asking, “So they’ve stopped that? They’ve completed their mission here? What’s the timeframe before they leave?” Speaking to FOX11 moments later, Bass called the operation “unacceptable.”

This is footage from today in MacArthur Park.

Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes through.

The SECOND I heard about this, I went to the park to speak to the person in charge to tell them it needed to end NOW.

Absolutely outrageous. pic.twitter.com/sxGzjGlYlr

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 7, 2025

No arrests were reported.

After most runners crossed the finish line, the crowd heard from SEIU Local 721 President Crystal Irving and Calif. State Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-57th District), who stood atop a box truck flanked with “Summer of Resistance” and “Run Against ICE” banners.

“We’re standing together, running through these historic neighborhoods, to unite behind one message, and that is simply we are standing for and with our immigrant communities,” Irving said. “…This issue is all of our issues, and we know very deeply that an injury to one is an injury to all, and an injustice to one is an injustice for all.”

Aside from standing together as community members, Irving reminded the crowd to stand together as voters who must commit to “[voting] out these politicians who insist on terrorizing us and destroying our families and our communities.”

Irving then handed the microphone off to Elhawary, who commended the runners for their participation.

“I’ve been hurt to see our people being treated the way they’ve been treated,” Elhawary said. “But we’re not going to sit here and just be sad. We’re going to turn that pain into power, just like you all did today! We’re going to turn that anxiety into action. … We’re going to make sure that we do everything we can until they [ICE agents] get the f— out of our community!”

Elhawary and Irving concluded their remarks by leading several “ICE out of LA!” chants.

Over 2,000 people signed up to participate in a Saturday morning “Run Against ICE.” The 15-mile route stretches from Koreatown to Olvera Street and passes through communities affected by recent raids and arrests. The event, which began at 8 a.m., is part of a 30-day “Summer of Resistance,” organized by a coalition bearing the same name.

An Instagram post from the Summer of Resistance said the run is meant to “defend freedom and dignity” and “show immigrant power.” They also demand an end to “militarized raids” and the presence of federal agents, as well as the release of all detainees and “freedom and protection for all.”

The first finishers arrived at Placita Olvera around 10:50 a.m. PT with volunteers cheering them on.

According to the crime monitoring app Citizen, protesters began to leave the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building just before 6:30 p.m. local time. Video showed a line of National Guard members on the sidewalk along Alameda Street, with protesters continuing to disperse.

Group Protesting Outside Edward R. Roybal Federal Building @CitizenApp

300 N Los Angeles St # 8530 1:06:04 PM PDT

An unlawful assembly was declared just before 6 p.m., and an altercation between police and protesters broke out shortly after, according to a video that journalist Anthony Cabassa posted to X. The LAPD issued a dispersal order around 7 p.m., at which point demonstrators left the area.

Demonstrators are still outside the Federal Building and, for the most part, have kept themselves on the sidewalk. Some protesters continue to stand on Alameda Street despite verbal warnings from LAPD officers driving by.

An LAPD helicopter warned protesters over a loudspeaker: “Get out of the street. You are subject to arrest,” after some demonstrators stood in the southbound lane of Alameda Street. They have since retreated to the sidewalk, still chanting, “Peaceful protest!”

In a scene mirroring those from last month’s marches, over 100 protesters have walked to the east side of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, stopping in front of National Guard troops as cars honked past.

The demonstrators, carrying signs, flags, and—in some cases—air horns, have chanted, “Peaceful protest!” and “Shame!” One woman with a megaphone demanded to know why troops were covering their faces, a contentious issue amid the ongoing raids.

Dozens of protesters have gathered in front of City Hall for another anti-ICE protest. This demonstration, organized by Refuse Fascism LA, began at 11 a.m. PT alongside the previous march. Participants convened around 2 p.m. and began marching south on Spring Street nearly 40 minutes later.

The march’s 1.5-mile long route took demonstrators from City Hall to Olvera Street and back, all the while chanting many pro-immigrant and anti-Trump phrases. Among them:

• “No hate no fear, immigrants are welcome here!”
• “ICE out of LA!”
• “The people united will never be defeated!”
• “This is what democracy looks like!”
• “We swore ‘never again!’ ‘Never again’ is now!”

As they passed the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, which was lined by LAPD officers and National Guard troops, the group urged authorities to be on the right side of history, saying, “Out of your cop cars and into the streets.”

The crowd began dispersing just before 12:30 p.m. PT.

After an hour and a half of passionate speeches and chants, protesters are beginning to march from City Hall.

KTLA’s Omar Lewis is one of several television reporters covering Friday’s protest. In an interview with The Beacon, he discussed what the general public should know regarding news coverage of these events.

“What we’ve seen during these types of protests is that things start off really calm, quiet, and peaceful during the hours of the planned schedule event, and then later on in the day is when things kind of take a turn,” Lewis said. 
”So we definitely have been here every step throughout the way. However, we do get some criticism from people only seeing those moments where things escalate.”

“However, we’re here,” he added. “We’ve been here since 7 o’clock this morning before things even started. So we are trying to cover this as best as we can. Obviously, a large event, so many people and moving parts.”

For student journalists covering these demonstrations, Lewis advises them to keep their heads “on the swivel.”

“I think the most important part is knowing your surroundings and being aware of what’s happening around you as best as possible,” he said. “There’s so many people and things going on, but a good journalist is always looking at their environment, … for the story and to protect yourself. So I think that the most important things in these types of environments, where it’s unpredictable and anything can happen, is to always keep your head on the swivel and work with your teammates, if you have one, to the best of your ability.”

While many cities have canceled or postponed their 4th of July celebrations due to fears over ICE operations, that hasn’t stopped people from exercising their right to protest on Independence Day.

The Free America protest, organized by the 50501 Movement, is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT in front of Los Angeles City Hall. As of now, dozens of volunteers have gathered to set up for the rally, including booths selling merchandise and a band sitting on a parked truck with the message “ICE out of LA” on its sides. Anti-Trump music can also be heard from a nearby speaker.

“When you look at Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Netanyahu’s bombing of Gaza, ICE’s raids in Los Angeles, or Trump’s Alligator Auschwitz, you are seeing just one part of a bigger oppressive picture,” organizer Hunter Dunn wrote in a press release. “On July 4th, our community is coming together to demand an end to genocides, occupations, and oppression at home and around the world.”

This protest follows various citywide demonstrations on July 1, where crowds called for an end to immigration raids and the addition of an eviction moratorium.

The New York Times reported Thursday that ICE has detained over 2,000 immigrants in Los Angeles since June 6.

Around 200 protesters blocked the Sixth Street Bridge Tuesday afternoon in response to the ongoing ICE raids. The demonstration is one of several planned for today across Los Angeles County.

Standing on the bridge that connects Downtown LA with Boyle Heights, the group held signs that read “ICE out of LA!” and “Sick of ICE!” The Los Angeles Tenants Union also called for an eviction moratorium in the wake of enforcement operations.

“We know that many tenants will not be able to pay their rent come July 1,” an LATU representative told KCAL News. “Why? Because this militarization of our community … has closed down businesses, taken away street vendors, separated families and then people cannot pay their rent. They have barely the minimum to survive.”

Today is the deadline for the city of Los Angeles to give anti-deportation protest records to the U.S. House of Representatives.

An investigation led by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Kentucky) asks that Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass turn in all documents and communication records from their respective offices, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

June 13 letters to both Newsom and Bass claim they “protested President Trump’s action to quell the violence caused by the rioters in Los Angeles, even resorting to falsely blaming him for the actions of violent rioters.”

The letters, written by Comer and Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins, added: “[Newsom and Bass] falsely claimed that state and local law enforcement had protests under control, however, police were clearly unable to quell the violence in Los Angeles prior to the arrival of the National Guardsmen.”

It is unclear whether the records were subpoenaed.

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security reported that ICE detained 1,618 immigrants across Southern California since the beginning of June. Additionally, during protests in that same span, 787 people were arrested for assault, obstruction, or unlawful assembly, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It is unclear how many of the 1,600 detained immigrants had criminal backgrounds. However, the Deportation Data Project found that, from June 1 to June 10, over half of those detained had no prior convictions.

The updated numbers and recent findings come as ICE raids continue in Southern California, including at a Hollywood Home Depot on June 19.

A bill sponsored by state and local politicians aims to end the practice of masked law enforcement agents, requiring those participating in immigration sweeps to identify themselves.

The “No Secret Police Act” would issue a misdemeanor for state, local and federal law enforcement officers who cover their faces, with some exceptions.

The bill’s co-author, Calif. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), told the Los Angeles Times: “We don’t want to move towards that kind of model where law enforcement becomes almost like an occupying army, disconnected from the community, and that’s what it is when you start hiding their face, hiding the identity.”

“Recent incidents involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers have created confusion, fear and mistrust in communities across the state,” Calif. Sen. Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) and Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo wrote in a press release. “This legislation seeks to establish clear and consistent standards, requiring officers to identify themselves during enforcement actions.”

LA Mayor Karen Bass criticized the practice of masked enforcement individuals during a Friday night briefing.

“We’re not sure who these armed men are,” Bass said. “They show up without uniforms. They show up completely masked. They refuse to give ID. They’re driving regular cars with tinted windows and in some cases out-of-state license plates. Who are these people?”

The legislation comes amid a Department of Homeland Security report claiming a 500% increase in assaults against ICE agents. In response to the apparent “doxxing” of ICE agents and their family members—where personally identifiable information is publicly revealed—the department stated: “Those who dox our ICE agents will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

For a team with a stadium that reaches deafening levels on game days, the Los Angeles Dodgers had remained largely silent on ICE raids until yesterday, when they announced a significant donation in support of immigrant families. That hasn’t stopped dozens of fans from protesting outside Dodger Stadium Saturday, demanding the team speak up for the Latino community.

Demonstrators filled the street corners of Sunset Boulevard and Vin Scully Avenue, near one of the stadium’s entrances, chanting “ICE out of LA!”, “Trump must go now!”, and “Do better Dodgers!” as cars and trucks honked past.

“We’re all a part of this community, and they’re a big part of this community,” protester Collin Fullerton said. “And I know it’s going to be difficult for them, and they’re going to lose fans over it, but it’s just the right thing for them to do.”

He added that while the Dodgers’ recent contribution to immigrant families is a “solid start,” he still expects them to speak out against both ICE and the Trump administration.

One Instagram account that announced the planned protest claimed the Dodgers’ $1 million donation is “a joke.”

“They make quadruple that in one game, yet remain silent on the city’s injustices,” the post continued, noting how the Dodgers led the league in ticket revenue per game at $4.29 million. They also referred to instances where fans supporting the Latino community were escorted out of games by security, the most recent involving a man who held an anti-ICE sign at a game on Thursday.

Going forward, Fullerton hopes the message expands to other Major League Baseball teams. As he was being interviewed, two buses—presumably carrying players and personnel of the visiting Washington Nationals—were escorted by LAPD motorcycles toward the stadium as protestors made their voices heard ahead of Saturday night’s game.

“This message needs to go out to all the teams because it’s going to wind up protecting Chicago and New York and San Francisco and San Diego,” Fullerton said. “We need to get as many of those teams on board as we can.”

After being heavily scrutinized for their silence on ICE raids and the subsequent protests, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday that they have committed $1 million in “direct financial assistance” for immigrant families. Their post on X noted that this is the first of several community efforts “to be announced in the coming days.”

In partnership with the City of Los Angeles, the Dodgers have committed $1 million toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region. Additional community efforts to be announced in the coming days.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2025

Over 50 Los Angeles community, religious, and union leaders have sent a letter to the Los Angeles Dodgers, imploring them to “take a public stand against the indiscriminate ICE raids which are terrorizing our communities, hurting businesses, and separating families.” Their call comes one day after the team denied federal agents access to the stadium’s parking lot. A planned announcement to help immigrant communities was delayed in light of the incident.

“This is the moment for the Dodgers to stand with the families whom masked agents are tearing apart,” the letter, addressed to team owner Mark Walter, states. “Children who may have sat in your seats enjoying a game now come home with no parents to receive them and no word of their whereabouts or well being other than reports of inhumane treatment in detention centers across California and the Southwest.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, an attached petition demands the following:

• “Issue a public statement affirming that families are sacred, and that the ICE raids must stop
• Stand with and support community organizations that are welcoming, protecting, and integrating immigrants into the fabric of our great region
• As when you asked ICE to leave the property yesterday, continue to ensure that no Dodgers’ property or assets will be used to aid or abet immigration enforcement operations.”

The Dodgers, save for a brief mention by manager Dave Roberts and Instagram posts by outfielder Kike Hernandez and retired Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, have remained silent on the matter. A Spanish performance of the National Anthem—and the rumored backlash that followed—only muddied the waters between one of LA’s most prominent sports teams and its legion of Latino and Latin American supporters.

Fans reportedly plan to protest outside the stadium tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT. The exact date of the Dodgers’ announcement remains unknown.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled that President Trump can keep National Guard troops in Los Angeles for now. The decision comes nearly a week after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer called the deployment “illegal” and briefly returned control to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 9th Circuit blocked that ruling hours later, leading to another hearing on June 17 before tonight’s verdict.

BREAKING: A federal appeals court has indefinitely blocked Judge Breyer’s order to put Gavin Newsom back in control of the National Guard.

The three-judge panel, which included two Trump and one Biden appointee, was unanimous. pic.twitter.com/kL5vASDcm1

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 20, 2025

“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects’ at the officers,” the three-judge panel wrote. “Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van’s windows. The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.”

Newsom later responded with a post on X, saying Trump “is not a king and not above the law.”

“Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” he continued. “We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.”

The case moves forward with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Friday morning, presided over by Judge Breyer.

Tens of thousands took to the streets across Los Angeles for “No Kings Day” on June 14, as ICE raids continue to bring turmoil to the city.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Berkeley Beacon (@berkeleybeacon)

Read the full story here.

The humid 86-degree heat did little to dampen spirits near the Metropolitan Detention Center, where roughly a dozen people rallied in the shade to mark the 12th consecutive day of anti-ICE protests.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted the curfew over Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday. The restriction, implemented June 10, was made to combat ongoing looting and vandalism that followed otherwise peaceful protests in the area.

“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,” Bass said in a statement. “I am lifting the curfew effective today, and as we continue quickly adapting to chaos coming from Washington, and I will be prepared to reissue a curfew if needed. My priority will continue to be ensuring safety, stability and support in the Downtown neighborhoods.”

The announcement comes one day after Bass initially moved the curfew’s start time from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell echoed Bass’s sentiment, adding: “The LAPD will maintain a strong presence in the area and continue to monitor conditions closely to protect lives, uphold the right to lawful assembly, and safeguard property.”

In one of America’s largest sports-crazed cities, many had expected its professional teams to comment on the raids and protests. So far, only two soccer franchises have issued public messages of solidarity.

Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League shared a statement via X on June 7, which read: “We are heartbroken by the fear and uncertainty many in our Los Angeles community are feeling right now. At Angel City, we believe in the power of belonging. We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home.” They also provided a link to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, a Los Angeles-based organization that offers legal and social services for immigrants.

In their first game since the protests, the team wore shirts in support of the immigrant community, the front proclaiming, “Immigrant City Football Club” and the back bearing the phrases, “Los Angeles is for everyone” and “Los Angeles es para todos.” The shirts are also being sold at the team’s store, with proceeds benefiting Camino Immigration Services.

Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club released a statement the day after in both English and Spanish: “LAFC believes that the true strength of our community comes from the people and cultures that make up the tapestry of this beautiful and diverse city. Today, when so many in our city are feeling fear and uncertainty, LAFC stands shoulder to shoulder with all members of our community.”

Among the other pro teams that have yet to release statements, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the most prominent organization, holding deep ties to a significant Latinx fanbase with a slogan—”Los Doyers”—to boot. Fans and columnists have pressured them to stand with the immigrant community, but the team has not acknowledged the matter at this time. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts briefly mentioned the raids in a pregame press conference on June 13, but said he “didn’t know enough” about the situation. Meanwhile, outfielder Kike Hernandez posted a long and heartfelt message on Instagram, saying in part, “This city adopted me as one of their own.”

The most recent sign of the team’s silence came before their Saturday game against the San Francisco Giants. Dominican American singer Vanessa Hernandez—known by her stage name, “Nezza”—sang the official Spanish version of the National Anthem, reportedly against the team’s wishes. The reviews of her performance were mixed, and while the Dodgers have not taken disciplinary action against her, Hernandez said: “Safe to say I’m never allowed in that stadium ever again.”

Among the many neighborhoods affected by protests in LA is Little Tokyo, a popular shopping and living space for many in the Japanese and Japanese-American communities. The violence, looting, and graffiti around Downtown LA have led to a decrease in sales and security measures. As a result, many businesses in the area have boarded up their windows to prevent further damage. Flyers in support of the immigrant community also adorn those walls. One version reads, “Little Tokyo is a community of immigrants. We are residents, restaurant workers, neighborhood kids, mom-and-pop stores, and elders. NO ICE IN LITTLE TOKYO.”

The Los Angeles Press Group and investigative reporting site Status Coup sued the city and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell Monday over increasing violence against journalists. According to NPR, the complaint alleges that officers patrolling protest areas “are routinely violating journalists’ rights.”

“Being a journalist in Los Angeles is now a dangerous profession,” the complaint stated. “LAPD unlawfully used force and the threat of force against Plaintiffs, their members and other journalists to intimidate them and interfere with their constitutional right to document public events as the press.”

Conflicts between Los Angeles police and the press are not unheard of. In August 1970, Los Angeles Times columnist and KMEX (Univision 34) news director Ruben Salazar was killed during a protest against the Vietnam War when a tear gas projectile flew through a hotel door and struck him in the head.

Citing Salazar’s death, LA Press Club press rights chair Adam Rose told NPR, “This isn’t new here. History repeats itself. The LAPD — and often the L.A. Sheriff’s Department as well — arrest and attack journalists. They will arrest them. They will detain them. And they will cause serious injury as well with these ‘less-lethal’ munitions.”

Since ICE raids began in Los Angeles, the Press Club has established a database for incidents between local journalists and law enforcement. To date, they have recorded over three dozen instances of violence against the press.

On June 9, over 60 news organizations and press rights groups signed a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding that federal officers and those working under their direction “refrain from any unlawful, indiscriminate, and excessive use of force against members of the press and public who are merely covering events of public concern in the Los Angeles area.”

In a Father’s Day post to Truth Social, President Donald Trump ordered ICE to expand its deportation efforts to “America’s largest cities,” naming Los Angeles, Chicago and New York—all under Democratic leadership. Trump issued the order to “achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”

Chants, signs and flags have filled the LA air since early June, all in response to ongoing ICE raids that have kept communities on edge.

Read the full story here.