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As it Happened: The Los Angeles ICE raids and protests of 2025

A box truck with pro-immigrant and anti-ICE messages led hundreds of protesters through a "Free America" march in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 4, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).
A box truck with pro-immigrant and anti-ICE messages led hundreds of protesters through a “Free America” march in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 4, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).
Jordan Pagkalinawan

On the morning of Friday, June 6, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained nearly two dozen day laborers at a Home Depot in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, two miles away from the city’s bustling downtown. A similar operation followed in the Fashion District hours later, with hundreds of protesters showing up as ICE raided an apparel manufacturing business. With roughly 44 administrative arrests by the day’s end, a large crowd descended upon the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building to march to the nearby Metropolitan Detention Center—the first of many demonstrations against ICE raids in Los Angeles, including a pair of “No Kings Day” rallies on June 19 and October 18.

In what some considered the “Summer of Resistance,” residents, advocacy groups, and nonprofit organizations came together across LA County to demand the release of detained immigrants and the removal of National Guard troops, active-duty Marines, and federal immigration enforcement agents, who were deployed to the city by President Donald Trump in the wake of the initial protests.

The militarized response was intended to protect federal buildings alongside LAPD officers. Frequent clashes between demonstrators and authorities resulted in dozens of arrests by mid-August, with fallout spreading over the last few months as operations continued throughout the city. On Dec. 12, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that over 10,000 people were arrested in local raids dating back to June.

A Los Angeles-based editor for The Beacon was present throughout the summer of tension in the City of Angels, maintaining a thread of updates from local and national media and attending protests and press conferences that amplified the stories of detained immigrants and called for the end of ICE raids in Los Angeles.

Protestors along a street in Los Angeles during the ‘No Kings Day’ protest on June 14, 2025 (Riley Goldman / Beacon Staff)
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Jul 08, 2025, 1:37 am

Los Angeles ICE raids: Top stories

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Dec 10, 2025, 6:10 pm

Federal judge orders Trump to end National Guard deployment in Los Angeles

A federal judge has called for the remaining 300 National Guard troops in Los Angeles to end their deployment, six months after their initial arrival into the city. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s ruling goes into effect Monday at 12 p.m. pacific time, according to CNN.

“The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants [Donald J. Trump et al.], however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one,” Breyer wrote. “Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly.”

“It defies the record – and common sense – to conclude that risks stemming from protests – in August, October, or even present day – could not have been sufficiently managed without resorting to the National Guard,” Breyer continued.

In a statement obtained by CNN, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson wrote: “President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like [Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom] refused to stop. We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”

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Oct 14, 2025, 10:06 pm

Los Angeles County declares state of emergency over ICE raids

Los Angeles County officials voted 4-1 to declare a state of emergency Tuesday amid continued immigration raids. The proclamation allows the LA County Board of Supervisors to provide rent relief for tenants who have suffered financial setbacks, according to the Associated Press.

According to the office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, rent funds will be available through an online portal application that will launch within two months.

“We have residents afraid to leave their homes, we have constituents contacting my office because their family members never came home and they don’t know if they’ve been taken by ICE or where they’ve been taken,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “We have entire families who are destitute because their fathers or mothers have been taken from their work places and they have no way to pay their rent or put food on their table.”

Supervisor Kathryn Barger opposed the declaration, believing it did not meet emergency criteria.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that the motion could eventually lead to an eviction moratorium, though it would require a “separate action by the supervisors.” The potential moratorium has faced opposition from local landlords, who were negatively impacted by COVID-era rent freezes.

“If local jurisdictions once again allow rent payments to be deferred due to ICE enforcement activities, this will lead to the further deterioration and loss of affordable housing in our community,” Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, told the AP on Monday.

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Sep 20, 2025, 5:21 pm

Gov. Newsom signs “No Secret Police Act,” barring most law enforcement officers from wearing masks

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill preventing federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks during immigration operations. The “No Secret Police Act,” SB 627, was authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

A press release from Wiener’s office noted that the bill was backed by “a large coalition of immigrant rights, labor, and civil rights organizations.”

“As this authoritarian regime seeks to demolish our constitutional rights and engages in a straight up terror campaign, California is meeting the Trump Administration’s secret police tactics with strength and defiance,” Sen. Wiener wrote in a statement. “I applaud Governor Newsom for the tremendous leadership he has shown in combatting President Trump’s assault on California. The No Secret Police Act is a bold step that builds on a remarkable record of leadership defending our immigrant communities and democracy itself.”

The Associated Press says it’s unclear how California can enforce such a ban on federal agents.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin described the legislation as “despicable” and “a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers.” DHS called for Newsom to veto the bill on Sept. 16.

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Sep 08, 2025, 12:47 pm

Supreme Court lifts restrictions on Los Angeles ICE operations

The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to lift restrictions on “roving” immigration raids by federal agents in Los Angeles, allowing the Trump administration to continue sweeps across the city.

The justices blocked a lower court’s July ruling that aimed to end indiscriminate operations, an order that prevented agents from detaining immigrants based on ethnicity, occupation, or location, among other factors.

“To be clear, apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion; under this Court’s case law regarding immigration stops, however, it can be a ‘relevant factor’ when considered along with other salient factors,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in concurrence.

The high court’s three liberal justices—Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown-Jackson—dissented.

“We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job,” Justice Sotomayor wrote in dissent. “Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the Supreme Court’s decision in a statement posted to social media, saying it “threatens the fabric of personal freedom in the United States of America.”

“Today, the highest court in the country ruled that the White House and masked federal agents can racially profile Angelenos with no due process, snatch them off the street with no evidence or warrant, and take them away with no explanation,” Bass wrote on Instagram. “This decision will lead to more working families being torn apart and fear of the very institutions meant to protect – not persecute – our people.”

“Let me be clear: we will not allow the White House, nor the Supreme Court, to divide us,” she continued. “And to all Angelenos, I will never stop fighting for your rights, your dignity, and your safety, despite this administration’s efforts to threaten them. We will stand united.”

The class-action lawsuit, filed by immigrant rights advocates, will continue to unfold in California, according to the Associated Press.

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Sep 02, 2025, 10:55 am

Federal judge finds Trump’s deployment of National Guard to LA illegal

A federal judge has ruled that President Trump’s use of the National Guard in Los Angeles is illegal. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said the Trump administration violated the Posse Comtatus Act of 1878, which bars the use of military troops for domestic law enforcement.

The decision comes months after Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state of California sued the Trump administration, challenging the initial deployment of over 4,000 guardsmen and 700 Marines in the wake of June anti-ICE protests. Violent outbursts during those demonstrations led to hundreds of arrests, with charges ranging from obstruction to assault.

Breyer—who first heard the case and initially sided with Newsom—released a 52-page ruling Tuesday.

“Almost three months after Defendants first deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, 300 National Guard members remain stationed there,” Breyer, a San Francisco-based judge, wrote. “Moreover, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have stated their intention to call National Guard troops into federal service in other cities across the country—including Oakland and San Francisco, here in the Northern District of California—thus creating a national police force with the President as its chief.”

Newsom reacted to the decision via X, writing: “DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree — his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL.”

Breyer has given the administration until Sept. 12 to appeal the ruling.

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Sep 01, 2025, 11:53 am

Border czar: ICE raids will ‘ramp up’ in Los Angeles, other sanctuary cities

White House border czar Tom Homan announced last Thursday that ICE operations would “ramp up” in Los Angeles and other sanctuary cities, including Seattle, Portland, and New York. Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also confirmed that Chicago will see a “surge” of immigration raids after Labor Day.

“Sanctuary cities” and jurisdictions limit their cooperation with the federal government on matters of immigration law enforcement. Los Angeles (2024) is the latest among the four to earn that distinction, with Portland (2017), Seattle (2003) and New York (1989) passing resolutions in the last few decades.

“That’s where we need to send the majority of the resources, and that’s where they’re going,” Homan said.

Homan’s announcement came the same day that federal agents targeted a Westlake Home Depot, taking eight people into custody.

Over 5,000 immigrants have been arrested in Los Angeles, according to Noem.

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Aug 19, 2025, 10:17 pm

Community leaders, teachers hold press conference and rally for LAUSD student detained by ICE

Jordan Pagkalinawan

Community leaders and educators held a press conference Tuesday to demand the release of a local high school student currently in ICE detention.

Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz, a rising senior at Reseda Charter High School, was walking his dog on Aug. 8 when he was taken into custody by masked federal agents. According to a GoFundMe organized for his family, the agents “tied his dog to a tree and then unclipped the collar off him to run loose on the Sepulveda [Boulevard].” After a series of transfers, he remains at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, Calif.

In addition to union and education leaders, Guerrero-Cruz’s peers and former teachers stood on the front steps of the district’s headquarters, all united by a single message: “Free Benjamin.”

Valerie, Guerrero-Cruz’s neighbor, witnessed the moments after he was detained, including when the agent unclipped his dog from its collar. Other agents refused to tell her why the dog was released and who was in the SUV, only pointing to an apartment complex before leaving.

“Why did I speak up? Because how could I not? 
How can any of us turn a blind eye to cruel, unjust treatment happening right in front of us?“ Valerie added. “Where is the compassion? Where is the humanity? 
Benjamin is just 18 years old, he turned 18 only weeks before being taken. A rising senior, getting ready to start his final year of high school. A big brother, a son, a young man with dreams, and masked men kidnapped him in broad daylight right off our street corner.”

Two of Guerrero-Cruz’s former teachers, Claudia Rojas and Lizette Becerra, also addressed the media.

“This is not just his fight, this is our fight,” Rojas, an LAUSD principal, said. “Because when one student is taken, every student feels the fear. When one family is torn apart, every family in our community feels that wound.”

“We must remind this nation that schools are sanctuaries, not hunting grounds,” she added. “That our students are scholars, leaders, dreamers, not detainees and not criminals. To my fellow educators, we cannot teach freedom if our students live in fear.”

Becerra visited Guerrero-Cruz in Adelanto on Sunday. She was one of the first visitors he saw since arriving at the detention center.

“I know the care that I’ve given him, and I know that for me, as a teacher, I have the moral and legal obligation to protect my students,” Becerra said. ”
And if that means going two hours to the desert to denounce the capture of my student, then I will. He does not deserve to be there. He deserves to be free.”

Leaders also pressured LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho to end his silence on Guerrero-Cruz’s detainment, urging the public to flood the district’s offices with phone calls.

“We call on the district to be a leader and [provide] legal support for all of those affected by the immigration raids, including joint litigation for families and educators that have been impacted,” United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz said.

“He is a senior whose empty seat in classes cannot, [and] will not, be overlooked,” she added. “These are children. Benjamin is somebody’s baby. He is one of our students. His empty desk is another painful reminder of how cruel the immigration system has become.”

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Aug 14, 2025, 9:01 pm

Border Patrol agents conduct sweep in Little Tokyo outside Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press conference

As Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed redistricting plans for California, around 100 federal agents walked through Little Tokyo, conducting another immigration sweep in the Downtown LA area and taking one person into custody.

Thursday’s operation was reported around 11:30 a.m. across the street from the Japanese American National Museum, where Newsom was holding a press conference. There, he announced he’d move forward with proposals on the state’s new congressional maps, putting them on the ballot of a Nov. 4 special election. The Golden State’s redistricting plans are in response to those pushed by Texas Republicans, who hope to shift at least five U.S. House seats in the GOP’s favor.

Reacting to the sweep, Newsom said: “Do you think it’s coincidental? Donald Trump and his minions, [border czar] Tom Homan, tough guy, clearly decided, coincidentally, or not, that this was a location to advance ICE arrests.”

LA Mayor Karen Bass also pushed back at the idea that the operation occurring during the press conference was coincidental.

“This was widely publicized that the governor and many of our elected officials were having a press conference here to talk about redistricting, and they decided they were going to come and thumb their nose in front of the governor’s face,” Bass said. “Why would you do that? It’s unbelievably disrespectful. It’s a provocative act. They’re talking about disorder in Los Angeles and they are the source of the disorder in Los Angeles right now. This is just completely unacceptable.”

 

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After the operation, federal agents drove back toward the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Metropolitan Detention Center, according to NBC Los Angeles. Both sit next to each other along Alameda Street and are roughly a ten-minute walk away from Little Tokyo.

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Aug 12, 2025, 11:21 pm

Summer of Resistance “community stoppage” concludes at Placita Olvera

After LAPD officers cleared the area near the Metropolitan Detention Center, demonstrators walked back to Placita Olvera around 7:45 p.m., chanting “The people united will never be divided!” and “If we don’t get no justice, then they don’t get no peace!”

The rally ended just after 8 p.m. with music from the day laborer band “Los Jornaleros del Norte” and the message, “We’ll be back!”

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Aug 12, 2025, 10:38 pm

Protesters march to Metropolitan Detention Center, met by LAPD officers

Jordan Pagkalinawan
LAPD officers surrounded roughly 100 protesters near the Metropolitan Detention Center on August 12, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

After several hours at Placita Olvera, roughly 100 participants in Tuesday’s “community stoppage” sang, danced and chanted their way to the Metropolitan Detention Center just after 6:45 p.m., where they are now occupying the intersection of Commercial Street and Alameda Street. LAPD officers, some with less lethal weapons, are observing them nearby.

The evening march came after remarks from several labor, education and religious leaders.

Angelica Salas, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, highlighted the solidarity that permeated Tuesday’s actions.

“These people were coming from all sorts of different backgrounds,” she told the crowd. “They were of African descent, they were Indigenous, they were Latino. They represented all of us. And today, we are saying we stand for a multiracial democracy in which we all belong, in which we all are seen as the Americans we are.”

In an interview with The Beacon, Marissa, a representative from the Los Angeles branch of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, said Tuesday’s actions were partially spurred by ICE agents’ violation of a temporary restraining order that aimed to halt indiscriminate raids. Since the order was implemented on July 11, numerous operations occurred at Home Depot’s in Westlake and Van Nuys.

Salas used ICE’s violation to remind the crowd of their collective power.

“We fought the racist policy, The court said, ‘You are right, you have the evidence to show that your people are being destroyed, that they’re being hunted down. And they are violating in every way, the spirit of that decision,’” she added. “So, that is why we’re out doing the streets. Because the people do have power in this country. … If we, the people, do not stand up, then our families are gonna continue to be destroyed. And this is not just about immigrant families. It’s about anybody who calls themselves American in this country.”

Marissa hopes that today’s rallies show a “continued resistance” to not only ICE agents, but also “billionaires, [and] CEOs that are making it impossible for people to earn a living wage.”

“The workers are not tired of fighting, and we want an end to this,” she added. “The politicians are supposed to represent what the workers want. And this is what the workers want, for ICE to stop invading our business places, our homes, and our communities.”

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Aug 12, 2025, 5:54 pm

Union members protesting outside Metropolitan Detention Center

Jordan Pagkalinawan

Around a dozen members from the Los Angeles Teachers Union, Service Employees International Union, and the California Gig Workers Union are singing, “Which side are you on?” toward LAPD officers who have blocked off part of Los Angeles Street near the Metropolitan Detention Center. A rally is scheduled to take place there at 7 p.m.

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Aug 12, 2025, 2:46 pm

Protesters marching through MacArthur Park

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Demonstrators walk through MacArthur Park as part of a 24-hour community stoppage organized by the Summer of Resistance Coalition (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

Dozens have started marching through MacArthur Park following this morning’s rally. Later this afternoon, they intend to stop at the LA County Board of Supervisors before ending at Placita Olvera.

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Aug 12, 2025, 2:32 pm

Summer of Resistance community stoppage: Dozens rally at MacArthur Park

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) pose for photos at MacArthur Park on August 12, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

Union leaders, nonprofit groups, and immigrant rights advocates have gathered at MacArthur Park as part of the 24-hour community stoppage organized by the Summer of Resistance Coalition.

Daniel Jefferson, a member of the nonprofit Pilipino Workers Center, said the organization wanted to show its support to the Latino community and others impacted by the ongoing raids.

“[Immigration enforcement is] impacting immigrants of all different identities, all different national origins, including a lot of Filipinos and our community,” he told The Beacon. “[We are here] to join with the larger movement, to really raise and make sure people know that these things are still happening.”

“It was a big victory to get the temporary restraining order, but ICE is still conducting illegal raids, still doing [racial] profiling, still sowing fear in the community,” he added. ”So we’re here to let folks know that and raise our voices about it as well as make sure that this is not just a Latino issue. This is an AAPI issue. This is a bunch of different communities issue.”

For those who are not present at these rallies, Jefferson wants them to remain aware of what’s going on and know there are organizations and resources to help them.

He also hopes that politicians who have supported them “stay strong and continue fighting with us.”

“And to those who aren’t necessarily aware or in the fight, they need to join us and continue to address this issue,” Jefferson said. “There are issues around not being allowed to do proper oversight over detention centers. There are issues around our communities not getting [the] support they need while they are facing these fears. 

And we’re ready to partner with different politicians on it. … People are in different places right now, but we need to all come together and be strong together and see what and meet our community needs in this moment.”

Following the rally, the groups plan to march from MacArthur Park to Placita Olvera this afternoon.

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Aug 12, 2025, 9:00 am

Summer of Resistance Coalition’s 24-hour “community stoppage” begins

Jordan Pagkalinawan

A 24-hour “community stoppage” organized by the Summer of Resistance Coalition takes effect today. The day-long strike, which was announced on July 11, urges residents to boycott Home Depot, Target, Walmart and McDonald’s and participate in numerous rallies and marches across Los Angeles.

The schedule of events is as follows (all times PT):

  • Midnight: Fast food workers strike
  • 6 a.m.: Community Takeback of MacArthur Park
  • 10 a.m.: Rally and march at MacArthur Park
  • 5 p.m.: Rally at Placita Olvera
  • 6:45 p.m.: March to Metropolitan Detention Center
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Aug 09, 2025, 3:40 pm

Protesters gather in front of Westlake Home Depot

Jordan Pagkalinawan
A U-Haul pickup truck draped with the message “Boycott Home Depot” led demonstrators at an anti-ICE protest on August 9, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

A large crowd marched from MacArthur Park to a Home Depot on Wilshire Boulevard, where ICE agents arrested 16 immigrants Wednesday. Several activists, union leaders, and relatives of deported immigrants then spoke out against the ongoing raids.

Among those speakers was Yuri Ramos, whose cousin and aunt were sent to a detention center in Texas and deported to Guatemala on the Fourth of July.

“July 4 is a day to celebrate independence for the land of the free,” Ramos said. “How can we call this country the ‘land of the free’ when our people are being kidnapped off the streets and are not given their right [to] due process?”

She also thanked community members for their support and called on the Los Angeles Unified School District to offer more resources for undocumented students.

“I feel anxious for not only my family’s safety, but for my neighbors, street vendors and for those who have to travel for their jobs,” she added. “
As a community, we need to keep fighting for our rights and speak up for those who can’t. Remember, you have the right to exercise your constitutional rights, especially your Fourth and Fifth Amendments, through these times.”

The labor rights group Union del Barrio also called for the release of one of their members, Amanda Trebach, who was arrested Friday while patrolling an ICE staging area in San Pedro, Calif.

“Amanda was wrongfully arrested on Friday for doing something similar [to] what I was doing, and that was defending the community,” Alejandro Orellana, an activist who was arrested in June for delivering personal protective equipment to ICE protesters, told the crowd. “The community has a right to defend itself. It’s not a crime to protest, and it’s not a crime to defend yourself or your community. … Free Amanda, drop the charges on all the political prisoners, and power to the people.”

After additional remarks, protesters continued to rally around the corner on Union Street, where the area was soon cordoned off by LAPD cruisers.

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Aug 09, 2025, 2:01 pm

Dozens gather for MacArthur Park protest

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Protesters march along Wilshire Boulevard en route to a Home Depot where 16 immigrants were arrested (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

A couple dozen peaceful demonstrators are at MacArthur Park to condemn an immigration operation that took place here last month. The protest—organized by several labor unions and immigrant rights groups—also calls for a boycott of Home Depot, which comes after two separate raids this week in Westlake and Van Nuys.

The rally begins at 11:30 a.m. PT, followed by a march slated for 1 p.m.

12:20 p.m.: “This park belongs to the people here,” one speaker, Armando, told the crowd. “It does not belong to any political institutions. It does not belong to the Trumpian in office. It does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to the people.”

Following those remarks, demonstrators began marching down Alvarado Street.

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Aug 06, 2025, 11:34 pm

16 arrested in Westlake Home Depot raid dubbed “Operation Trojan Horse”

Days after a federal appeals court upheld a restraining order against indiscriminate immigration raids, federal agents stormed a Home Depot in Westlake Wednesday morning, taking 16 people into custody. The operation comes exactly two months after ICE raids hit both Westlake and LA’s Fashion District, sparking waves of tense protests since then.

A Penske rental truck approached a group of day laborers outside the Home Depot on Wilshire Boulevard around 6:45 a.m. The driver told them in Spanish that he was looking for workers, and after someone else opened the truck’s rear door, masked agents jumped out and chased people in the parking lot.

The Department of Homeland Security said the 16 undocumented immigrants are from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. DHS officials told Fox News that MS-13 gang activity was the reason behind the operation.

In a statement, LA Mayor Karen Bass condemned the operation and the “dangerous tactics” used by federal agents.

“The Federal court of appeals made clear that it is unconstitutional in this country to racially profile people and snatch them from worksites,” she said. “The City is gathering information about these reported raids and considering all legal options. Tactics like this are un-American and we will never accept these terrorizing ploys as a new normal.”

Penske released a statement on social media, saying they were aware of the operation in Los Angeles.

“Penske strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances,” they added. “The company was not made aware that its trucks would be used in today’s operation and did not authorize this. Penske will reach out to DHS and reinforce its policy to avoid improper use of its vehicles in the future.”

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Aug 02, 2025, 2:34 am

Federal appeals court upholds restrictions on immigration raids

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a temporary restraining order that bars federal agents from detaining immigrants without reasonable suspicion that they are violating immigration law.

“If, as Defendants suggest, they are not conducting stops that lack reasonable suspicion, they can hardly claim to be irreparably harmed by an injunction aimed at preventing a subset of stops not supported by reasonable suspicion,” the three-judge panel wrote Friday.

In a press conference, LA Mayor Karen Bass said the Ninth Circuit “affirmed the rule of law” and called their decision “a victory upholding the Constitution.”

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Jul 31, 2025, 2:26 pm

Over 1,000 National Guard troops to leave Los Angeles

Another 1,350 National Guardsmen will depart Los Angeles weeks after the initial withdrawal of 2,000, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said around 250 troops will stay in the city to “protect federal personnel and property.”

LA Mayor Karen Bass said the move marked “another win for Los Angeles,” adding: “We will continue this pressure until ALL troops are out of LA.”

“President Trump is realizing that his political theater backfired. This militarization was always unnecessary and deeply unpopular,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a Thursday statement. “The President must do the right thing to end this illegal militarization now because the economic and societal impacts are dire. The women and men of our military deserve more than to be used as props in the federal government’s propaganda machine.”

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Jul 30, 2025, 10:00 am

LA County Board of Supervisors moves forward with ordinance barring law enforcement officers from wearing masks

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to direct county counsel to draft an ordinance barring law enforcement officers from wearing masks with limited exceptions. The Monday vote passed 4-0-1, with an abstention from Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The motion comes amid tense immigration sweeps across Southern California, where immigrants have been detained by masked or plainclothed officers. The proposed ordinance would not only prohibit all law enforcement officers—including federal agents—from wearing masks, but also require them to visibly display identification and agency affiliation while on duty in public spaces.

“The use of masks, tactical gear, and refusal to show identification is not only alarming and confusing, but erodes public trust and raises serious safety concerns,” First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said. “Residents have a right to know who is operating in our communities, especially during times of heightened fear amid aggressive and warrantless raids.”

Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion, acknowledged it is unclear how the county will enforce the law when it comes to actions by ICE or other federal agencies, adding: “Ultimately, it might have to be decided by a court.”

Once county lawyers draft the ordinance, they will bring it back to the Board of Supervisors for approval within 60 days.

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Jul 21, 2025, 10:56 pm

Pentagon confirms 700 Marines will be withdrawn from Los Angeles

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Protesters gather in front of Marines and LAPD officers protecting the Metropolitan Detention Center on July 19, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff)

700 active-duty Marines will leave Los Angeles over a month after their initial deployment, the Pentagon confirmed Monday. The announcement comes nearly a week after the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops.

“With stability returning to Los Angeles, [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth] has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: Lawlessness will not be tolerated,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. “Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law. We’re deeply grateful for their service, and for the strength and professionalism they brought to this mission.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the decision is “a win” for both the city and the Marines.

“Just this morning, I stood with Veterans, families of active duty officers, and business leaders to show the impact of this unnecessary, unprecedented, and unconstitutional assault on our city,” Bass continued.

Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for the remaining National Guard troops to be sent home.

“The women and men of the California National Guard deserve more than to continue serving as puppets in Trump and Stephen Miller’s performative political theater,” Newsom wrote in a statement. “There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles. The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all.”

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Jul 18, 2025, 5:47 pm

LAPD officers take canopy from peaceful protesters, detain one demonstrator in the process

Jordan Pagkalinawan
LAPD officers remove a canopy that belonged to an anti-ICE protester on July 18, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

A group of LAPD officers spoke with protesters before removing a blue canopy and taking one woman into custody. One protester said they began taking the canopy down without explanation, and others hurled insults at the officers as they walked back to their patrol cars. Another protester said he had a phone call with a member of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, who confirmed it is legal to have a canopy on the sidewalk.

Some demonstrators plan to stay here into the evening, just as they had done yesterday.

July 21 Update

According to the independent media outlet L.A. TACO, authorities cited anti-camping laws to break up the anti-ICE camp on Friday, removing not only the blue canopy but several donations of food and water. Video shows the detained woman, identified as Melissa, being put in handcuffs by several LAPD officers, giving her name and birthdate to bystanders who offered to get her a lawyer.

Friday had marked the seventh day of 24-hour protests by the group “Occupy ICE LA.”

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Jul 18, 2025, 5:27 pm

Small group of demonstrators gather outside Metropolitan Detention Center

Roughly a dozen protesters have convened near the Metropolitan Detention Center, one day after a similar demonstration ended in a confrontation with Department of Homeland Security officers. Two protesters with bullhorns have taunted troops from across the street.

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Jul 17, 2025, 9:16 pm

Protesters rally in support of hospitalized woman detained by ICE

Jordan Pagkalinawan

The crowd has moved one block down, near the room of Milagro Solis Portillo, the patient detained by ICE agents on July 3. They chanted “Free, free, free Milagro! No, no, no to ICE!” and sang, “All we are saying is give hope a chance.”

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Jul 17, 2025, 8:56 pm

Dozens gather outside Glendale hospital where ICE officers are monitoring detained patient

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Community members rallied in support of a detained immigrant hospitalized following an encounter with ICE agents. Subcontracted detention officers have monitored the patient for two weeks (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

Dozens have gathered in front of Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center Thursday, rallying against the presence of ICE-subcontracted detention officers in the hospital’s lobby. The demonstration is part of the nationwide “Good Trouble Lives On” movement, honoring the contributions of Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) on the fifth anniversary of his passing.

In early July, detention officers were seen in the Glendale hospital’s waiting area, monitoring a female patient who suffered injuries after being detained by ICE agents on July 3. The woman, Milagro Solis Portillo, was detained near her home in Sherman Oaks. Following a medical emergency, she was taken to Glendale Memorial in handcuffs.

A July 7 statement from Dignity Health said, “The hospital cannot legally restrict law enforcement or security personnel from being present in public areas which include the hospital lobby/waiting area.”

Among the crowd of peaceful demonstrators were members of the Filipino American community, who showed up to support Portillo and demand an end to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“When [Filipinos] come to places like the U.S., now we’re being increasingly targeted,” Mich, a member of the migrant rights organization Migrante Los Angeles, told The Beacon. “And people like Milagro, even though she’s not Filipino, like that could be my Tita [aunt], that could be my mom, someone who is genuine and trying to be in this country, trying to provide for her family, but is even being denied access to healthcare.”

“Her life is being put at risk because they care more about fulfilling this political agenda, getting immigrant communities out of the U.S rather than defending the rights of our community,” she added.

Another protester, Camilla—a member of the Filipino human rights organization Malaya Los Angeles—hopes the Trump administration and general public understand “this is not normal.”

“Our tax dollars should not be funding all these ICE agents, just hiding in our hospitals, in public places where people should be feeling safe,” she said.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. near Glendale Memorial.

Other “Good Trouble Lives On” vigils were planned for Los Angeles City Hall and several local cities, ranging from West Hollywood to Santa Clarita.

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Jul 15, 2025, 8:14 pm

Pentagon: 2,000 California National Guard troops to be withdrawn from Los Angeles

The Pentagon has confirmed that 2,000 National Guardsmen will be withdrawn from their mission in Los Angeles, cutting the military presence in Southern California by half.

Over 4,700 National Guard troops and active-duty Marines were sent to Los Angeles to protect federal buildings and personnel in the wake of protests against ICE operations. A legal battle ensued between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump, with a federal judge allowing the National Guard to stay in the area with a June 19 ruling.

In a statement to ABC News, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Partell wrote: “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding. As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission.”

Mayor Karen Bass released a statement Monday afternoon, saying the demobilization happened “because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong.”

“We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat,” she added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom called for the remaining troops to be sent home in a statement to ABC7 Los Angeles.

“For more than a month, the National Guard has been pulled away from their families, communities and civilian work to serve as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles,” Newsom wrote. “While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining guardsmembers continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities. We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theater and send everyone home now.”

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Jul 14, 2025, 6:23 pm

Trump administration to appeal restraining order on immigration raids

The Trump administration will appeal a federal judge’s decision to restrict indiscriminate immigration raids around Los Angeles.

The Friday ruling ordered federal agents to detain immigrants only if there is reasonable suspicion they are violating U.S. immigration law and not on the basis of their race, ethnicity, accent, or occupation, among other factors. A separate order granted detained immigrants access to free and confidential legal visits and assistance.

“No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy — that authority rests with Congress and the president,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson wrote in a statement. “Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview or jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal.”

In a Sunday interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” border czar Tom Homan said the administration would challenge the order.

“We’re going to litigate that order, cause I think that order is wrong,” Homan said. “[U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong] is assuming the officers don’t have reasonable suspicion. They don’t need probable cause to briefly detain and question somebody. They just need reasonable suspicion, and that’s based on many articulable facts.”

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) responded to Homan’s claims in an interview on the same program, calling the administration’s enforcement tactics “wrong.”

“It’s not just due process rights that have become the concern, but racial profiling,” he said. “When federal agents involved in immigration enforcement are using racial profiling, they’re not enforcing the law. They are breaking it.”

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Jul 12, 2025, 5:49 pm

Federal judge rules LAPD officers cannot arrest, fire weapons at journalists covering protests

Jordan Pagkalinawan
A news van from KABC-TV Los Angeles sits parked around the corner from an anti-ICE protest on June 6, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

Weeks after local press groups sued the city of Los Angeles and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that bars officers from arresting, detaining, or firing non-lethal weapons at reporters covering anti-ICE protests.

The ruling, made Friday by U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera, grants the Los Angeles Press Club a two-week restraining order against the LAPD after dozens of documented instances where officers struck journalists with non-lethal rounds. Under the order, officers may not obstruct journalists in the process of gathering information, keep them out of enclosed areas, or arrest them in those areas.

“If LAPD detains or [arrests] a person who claims to be a journalist,” Vera wrote, “that person shall be permitted to promptly contact a supervisory officer of the rank of captain or above for purposes of challenging that detention, unless circumstances make it impossible to do so.”

The judge also noted how journalists covering the protests “faced an onslaught of projectiles and other shows of physical force” from LAPD officers.

“The likelihood of repeated confrontations — together with the evidence evincing Defendants’ sustained pattern of conduct — suffices to show that Plaintiffs risk recurrent future injury,” he added.

According to Politico, the restraining order gives the court time to consider a long-term block.

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Jul 11, 2025, 10:12 pm

Federal judge grants temporary restraining orders on immigration raids

A Los Angeles federal judge has granted temporary restraining orders on immigration raids by the Department of Homeland Security, according to a decision released Friday.

The ruling gives detainees access to legal visitation seven days a week and free confidential phone calls to attorneys, legal representatives, and legal assistants, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Additionally, DHS may stop people only if there is reasonable suspicion they are violating U.S. immigration law, and not on the basis of their race, ethnicity, accent, or job, nor their presence at a Home Depot or car wash, among other particular locations.

The decision emerged one day after the judge heard arguments between the American Civil Liberties Union and DHS. Los Angeles and other Southern California cities joined the lawsuit on Tuesday, with Mayor Karen Bass reiterating a commitment to “stand united with Angelenos regardless of what country they came from, when they got here or why they’re here.”

In Friday’s press conference by the Summer of Resistance coalition, ACLU Southern California Executive Director Chandra Bhatnagar discussed the union’s legal battle against DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem.

“What was striking about yesterday’s hearing was that after all the arguments and rebuttals were made, the truth of the matter remained undisputed,” Bhatnagar told reporters. “The government brought zero evidence whatsoever to disprove what our clients have experienced. That is because they can’t.”

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Jul 11, 2025, 5:12 pm

Dept. of Homeland Security: 200 arrested in Thursday’s Ventura County farm raids

The Department of Homeland Security announced that 200 immigrants were arrested in two raids at Ventura County cannabis farms. According to KTLA, the operations are “likely the largest single-day immigration crackdown in the state’s history.”

“On July 10, 2025, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo,” the department said in a press release. “During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.”

DHS also acknowledged a crowd of 500 protesters that “attempted to disrupt” the operations, adding that four were arrested for “assaulting or resisting officers.”

Aside from reportedly damaging federal vehicles, one protester was caught on video firing a gun at ICE and CBP agents. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to that individual’s arrest.

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Jul 11, 2025, 3:48 pm

LA artist Hector Flores reacts to Mayor Bass’ executive directive, discusses expectations of political leaders

In an interview with The Beacon following the Summer of Resistance press conference, artist and organizer Hector Flores said he is “excited” about Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive No. 12 moving forward to protect immigrant communities.

“I feel like Trump is signing ten [executive orders] a day, and we’re signing one a month,” he joked. “So, I want to see more, but I’m glad that that’s moving forward.”

Flores hopes that state, local and federal leaders recognize that Angelenos will not allow “the normalization of military occupation” in Los Angeles and other American cities.

“LA is an experiment, right? We have one of the largest immigrant communities in the country,” he added. “If [federal agents] can militarize, occupy, and take over public space here, they can do it anywhere.

“LA is a holding ground, so we’re using joy, music, art, and movement as resistance, and letting people know that LA [isn’t] going down without a fight.”

Going forward, Flores wants to see politicians fund a coalition of immigrant lawyers who can take cases on and sue the federal government for “their illegal rounding up of immigrants.”

“What’s happening on the street is racial profiling,” he said. “All the safeguards that we have in order to make sure that people have due process, [and] are treated with respect, are not being followed. The government supposedly is all about law and order, yet disobeys law and disobeys order.

“It’s a barrage [of deportations],” he concluded, “and therefore we have to respond with a barrage of support, a barrage of advocacy, a barrage of lawyers to legally do that work.”

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Jul 11, 2025, 3:26 pm

Summer of Resistance coalition announces August community strike at press conference

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie, founder of “The Row LA” (a “Church without Walls” on Skid Row), addresses the media and introduces speakers at a Summer of Resistance press conference on July 11, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

Following Mayor Bass’ executive directive, organizers of the Summer of Resistance coalition held a press conference to review their current efforts and announce a continuation into August. The group unveiled plans for a community strike on Aug. 12, encouraging people to withhold their labor and purchasing power. A mass, non-violent demonstration is set for that day in MacArthur Park.

The Summer of Resistance coalition consists of various unions and community organizations that have partnered for a wide range of events, from teach-ins and musical performances to poetry readings and crafting sessions. The programming began on June 15, Father’s Day, with groups setting up in Placita Olvera every day since then, a few blocks away from the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Metropolitan Detention Center. On Friday, union leaders, clergymembers and immigrant rights groups filled the plaza, entering to live music by the day laborer band, “Los Jornaleros del Norte.”

“Summer of Resistance is how we heal,” artist and organizer Hector Flores told the crowd. “Summer of Resistance is a place for 30 days where we’ve convened, we fought, we marched, we created, we cried together here. … Six months ago, we were fighting fires, and now, we’re fighting ICE. But, we survived the fires, and we will survive ICE.”

Rev. Dylan Littlefield, a bishop with the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, recalled his experiences presiding over morning masses at Placita Olvera.

“In these 30 days, we saw relationships form across lines of faith, culture, language and neighborhoods,” he said. “Demonstrators and organizers, clergy and workers, elders and youth, gathered not only to resist, but to imagine. To imagine a city rooted in the love of justice, the righteousness of compassion, and the courage of powerful, loud, but peaceful resistance.”

Speakers emphasized the need for immigrant communities to be protected and their labor efforts recognized. They also called for separated families to be reunited, for an end to the unlawful and immoral “military operation” by federal agents, and for those agents and local authorities to be on “the right side of history.”

“Until those demands come, we will not stop organizing, we will not stop marching, and we call on Congress for accountability and oversight,” Angelica Salas, executive director of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), said. “We will file lawsuits, and we will bring common sense to this deranged administration.”

In her closing remarks, Salas pleaded: “Recognize us as the people we are. Recognize our humanity. Recognize us through citizenship. And most importantly, stop violating the law and stop violating the Constitution of the United States, because we are part of this country, and we too, deserve to be protected.”

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Jul 11, 2025, 11:49 am

Mayor Bass signs executive directive to protect immigrant communities amid ICE raids

On the heels of ICE operations in MacArthur Park, Van Nuys and Ventura County, LA Mayor Karen Bass has signed an executive directive aimed at protecting immigrant communities from federal agents.

“The directive will help city workers know how to address immigration officials should they approach a city department,” she told reporters Friday morning at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.

“We want to disseminate information on city services and assistance programs for families that are impacted by federal enforcement actions,” Bass said regarding the directive’s goals. “Even people that contract with the city—we want them to understand what their rights are.”

In addition to supporting immigrants, the directive will establish a group led by the LAPD to develop guidance on officers’ responses to immigration enforcement. They will work with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs as well as immigrant rights groups and community leaders.

A Freedom of Information Act request will also be submitted to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The request asks for records related to the LA ICE raids, including dates, locations, and reasons for arrest, according to KTLA.

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Jul 10, 2025, 4:44 pm

Federal agents raid Ventura County farm, deploy tear gas on crowd of protesters

ICE agents descended on a Camarillo cannabis farm as part of a possible immigration raid Thursday. The operation was reported around 11:25 a.m. PT at the Glass House on Laguna Road. Another raid was reported at the farm’s Carpinteria location, over 30 miles away.

Agents reportedly detained workers in Camarillo and fired tear gas at a large group of protesters. The canisters struck several people, including one in the face, according to the Ventura County Star.

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Jul 09, 2025, 12:30 pm

DHS: Nearly 2,800 immigrants arrested in Los Angeles area

The Department of Homeland Security has updated the number of immigrants arrested by ICE across Los Angeles. In a Tuesday afternoon statement, DHS told the Los Angeles Times: “ICE and CBP have arrested 2,792 illegal aliens in the L.A. area,” up from the 1,618 that were arrested from June 6-22.

The report comes one day after federal agents raided MacArthur Park in an operation quickly condemned by state and local leaders. Los Angeles and seven other cities have since joined a class action lawsuit against the DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem, which was filed on July 2.

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Jul 08, 2025, 9:32 pm

City of LA joins immigration enforcement lawsuit against Dept. of Homeland Security

Los Angeles and other Southern California cities have joined a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, according to a Tuesday announcement by Mayor Karen Bass.

According to ABC7 Los Angeles, LA County and seven other cities—Montebello, Culver City, Pasadena, Monterey Park, Santa Monica, Pico Rivera and West Hollywood—have filed motions to intervene in the suit. Brought forth by the ACLU and various immigrant and civil rights groups on July 2, Vasquez-Perdomo v. Noem calls for an end to the “warrantless home raids” and “illegal worksite operations” that “violate the Fourth Amendment.”

“We are a city of immigrants, and we will stand united with Angelenos regardless of what country they came from, when they got here or why they’re here,” Bass said in a press conference.

In a statement, LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said that raids by federal agents and military troops “[sow] fear and chaos among our residents.”

“Today’s motion to intervene shows we will not stand by and allow these raids to continue or to become the standard operating procedure in our communities,” she added.

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Jul 08, 2025, 4:39 pm

Three arrested in attempt to damage Border Patrol vehicles in Van Nuys; operation reported shortly after

Three suspects were arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly trying to damage Border Patrol cars in Van Nuys, according to Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino.

In an 11:30 a.m. PT post to X, Bovino wrote that the trio “attempted to impede and obstruct” agents’ efforts with devices designed to puncture tires.

The incident came just before ICE agents were seen at a Home Depot on Roscoe Boulevard. An Instagram post from street photographer Ricardo Miranda showed federal agents arriving around noon and getting into an altercation with a group of bystanders. No arrests from that operation have been reported.

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Jul 08, 2025, 2:38 am

Anti-ICE protesters gather near Disneyland hotels

A group of protesters has converged on an Anaheim, Calif., hotel near Disneyland. The demonstration was reported on Citizen at 11 p.m. PT near the Fairfield Anaheim Resort, where federal agents are reportedly staying. Video from the crime monitoring app showed a group chanting “ICE out of OC!” while banging pots and pans as cars honked by.

Protesters Chant ‘ICE Out of OC’ Across From Disneyland @CitizenApp

1480 Harbor Blvd 10:59:37 PM PDT

The protest comes three weeks after another demonstration on June 13, where a peaceful gathering at Angel Stadium devolved into chaos in a nearby neighborhood. A group began setting off fireworks as police ordered them to leave. No arrests were made, and the crowd dispersed hours later.

Monday’s demonstration is scheduled to end at midnight PT.

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Jul 08, 2025, 1:00 am

How Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” impacts immigration enforcement

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.

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Jul 08, 2025, 12:39 am

Gov. Gavin Newsom: MacArthur Park raid is a “disgrace” and a message from Trump’s “polluted heart”

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.

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Jul 07, 2025, 7:29 pm

Mayor Bass releases video statement on MacArthur Park ICE raid

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.

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Jul 07, 2025, 6:15 pm

Protesters remain at MacArthur Park

Jordan Pagkalinawan
A group of protesters gathered in MacArthur Park hours after a morning operation on July 7, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.”

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Jul 07, 2025, 3:47 pm

Federal agents present at MacArthur Park for operation, accompanied by National Guard

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.”

No arrests were reported.

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Jul 05, 2025, 4:17 pm

SEIU leader, California assemblymember address demonstrators

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.

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Jul 05, 2025, 1:57 pm

Thousands “Run Against ICE” as part of Saturday protest

Jordan Pagkalinawan

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 9:44 pm

Protesters leave Edward R. Roybal Federal Building after confrontation with authorities

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 6:41 pm

Afternoon protest remains peaceful amid LAPD warnings

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 6:20 pm

LAPD warns protesters to stop blocking street

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!”

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Jul 04, 2025, 6:10 pm

Hundreds gather outside Edward R. Roybal Federal Building

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building on July 4, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 5:45 pm

Second anti-ICE protest at City Hall

Jordan Pagkalinawan
A second July 4th anti-ICE protest, organized by Refuse Fascism LA, began at 11 a.m. PT and continued past 2 p.m. (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 3:26 pm

‘Free America’ march draws hundreds

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Volunteers block traffic as hundreds of demonstrators march along Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

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Jul 04, 2025, 2:34 pm

Protesters begin marching from City Hall

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

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Jul 04, 2025, 1:53 pm

KTLA reporter offers insight on media coverage of LA protests

Jordan Pagkalinawan

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.”

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Jul 04, 2025, 12:35 pm

Anti-ICE protest planned for 4th of July at LA City Hall

Jordan Pagkalinawan
A truck carrying a local band bears the message “ICE out of LA” (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

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Jul 01, 2025, 6:20 pm

Protesters shut down DTLA’s Sixth Street Bridge

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.”

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Jun 27, 2025, 11:37 am

Congress orders city of Los Angeles to turn over all protest-related records

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.

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Jun 27, 2025, 2:27 am

Dept. of Homeland Security: Over 1,600 immigrants detained by ICE in Southern California

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.

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Jun 23, 2025, 3:11 pm

Proposed California law requires immigration agents to identify themselves

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.”

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Jun 21, 2025, 6:32 pm

Fans protest Dodgers’ past silence, say current efforts are not enough

Jordan Pagkalinawan
One protestor made his way to the edge of a Dodgers billboard, waving an anti-Trump flag while demonstrators rallied below (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.”

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Jun 20, 2025, 6:52 pm

Dodgers break silence on ICE raids, announce $1 million in direct financial assistance

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.”

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Jun 20, 2025, 5:08 pm

Community leaders send letter to Dodgers: “Take a stand” against ICE raids

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.

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Jun 20, 2025, 12:01 am

Newsom v. Trump Update: President retains control of National Guard

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.

“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.

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Jun 19, 2025, 1:05 am

“No Kings LA” draws thousands to city streets

Riley Goldman
Protesters holding American flags in Los Angeles during the ‘No Kings Day’ protest on June 14, 2025 (Riley Goldman / Beacon Staff)

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.

 

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Read the full story here.

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Jun 17, 2025, 6:46 pm

Small group protests outside Metropolitan Detention Center

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Protesters rally steps away from the National Guard in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 17, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

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Jun 17, 2025, 4:53 pm

Mayor Bass lifts DTLA curfew

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Los Angeles City Hall on June 17, 2025 (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.”

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Jun 16, 2025, 11:38 pm

Two of LA’s pro sports teams speak up — while others stay silent

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By Spatms – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164665892

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.”

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Jun 16, 2025, 8:05 pm

How protests are affecting Little Tokyo

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Flyers supporting the immigrant community in Little Tokyo are attached to the boarded-up walls of the Japanese American National Museum, which is currently closed for renovations (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.”

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Jun 16, 2025, 5:39 pm

City of LA, LAPD Chief sued over attacks on journalists

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.”

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Jun 16, 2025, 3:32 pm

Trump orders ICE raids to expand to other Democratic-run cities

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.”

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Jun 16, 2025, 3:27 pm

How did the LA protests begin?

Jordan Pagkalinawan
Anti-ICE protests began June 6 in Los Angeles. Around 150 demonstrators convened outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building hours after a raid in the Fashion District (Jordan Pagkalinawan/ Beacon Staff).

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.

About the Contributor
Jordan Pagkalinawan
Jordan Pagkalinawan, Former Sports Editor & Website Editor
Jordan Pagkalinawan (he/him) served as The Beacon’s sports editor and website co-editor before graduating in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and minor in Sports Communication. Originally from Burbank, Calif., he fulfilled several roles on The Beacon’s editorial board dating back to his sophomore year, including as Kasteel Well Bureau Chief in the spring of 2024 and managing editor of the sports and news sections the following semester. Jordan primarily covered the Emerson Lions through game recaps and features while occasionally diving into local stories, including coverage of the Los Angeles ICE raids and protests in the summer of 2025.

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