Anti-ICE rioters vandalized the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) headquarters on West 1st Street Sunday night, prompting a fierce law enforcement response.

 Police deployed tear gas downtown as violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and authorities in response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Windows were smashed, police vehicles torched, and Molotov cocktails were hurled in what officials described as a coordinated escalation of unrest.

Protests Over Immigration Enforcement in L.A.

According to Fox News, agitators also targeted vehicles near the Metropolitan Detention Center. Officers were pelted with rocks and other objects while fires engulfed both public and private property.

The LAPD declared an “unlawful assembly” late Sunday and urged the public to avoid the downtown area.

“Agitators have splintered into and throughout [sic] the Downtown Area,” the LAPD Central Division warned on X. “Residents, businesses and visitors to the Downtown Area should be alert and report any criminal activity.”

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Trump Deploys National Guard, Sparks Political Backlash

President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops on Friday, saying it was necessary to quell “out-of-control violence.” Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supported the move, telling Fox News Live, “This is basic law enforcement. We do all remember the summer of ‘20 when this got out of hand. This can’t happen again.”

However, California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s actions, accusing him of politicizing law enforcement.

“Trump sent troops anyway — to manufacture chaos and violence,” Newsom wrote on X. “Now things are destabilized, and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump’s mess.”

Newsom arrived in L.A. Sunday evening to oversee the response. “We’re here to keep the peace — not play into Trump’s political games,” he added.

Reactions from Across the Political Spectrum

The riots have drawn sharp responses from political leaders nationwide.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker claimed on Meet the Press that the protests were largely peaceful, saying, “The reality is, we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles… Trump is sowing chaos.”

By contrast, Republican leaders criticized local officials for inaction. California Republicans slammed Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for allowing “the city to burn.”

A Department of Homeland Security statement asked, “Why is California’s governor siding with foreign criminals?”

Timeline of Events Since Protests Began

• Friday, June 6, 2025: ICE raids prompt immediate street protests across Southern California.
• Saturday, June 7: Demonstrations intensify; reports of looting and arson emerge.
• Sunday, June 8: LAPD HQ attacked, vehicles torched, and National Guard called into action.
• Monday, June 9: Officials continue cleanup operations; debates rage over federal intervention.

Anti-ICE Rioters: Backlash Against Enforcement 

The unrest was triggered by a series of high-profile ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants, many of whom had pending court hearings.

Supporters of the protests argue the raids were unjust and destabilizing. Critics, however, view the violent response as unacceptable.

A New York Times editorial, quoted in Fox News, stated, “The real emergency is not the protests — it’s the White House escalating conflict for political theater.”

What Next?

The LAPD and National Guard remain on alert as tensions continue. Meanwhile, the legal and political implications of Trump’s troop deployment and the governor’s resistance are expected to play out in the coming weeks.