A nightly curfew is now in effect in downtown Los Angeles as the city responds to escalating unrest following federal immigration raids and widespread protests. The emergency measure was announced by Mayor Karen Bass on the evening of Tuesday, June 10, after a surge in looting and property damage impacted local businesses.
The Los Angeles curfew immigration protests policy applies nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and covers an area bounded by the 5, 10, and 110 freeways. The zone includes City Hall, LAPD headquarters, and federal buildings that have become protest focal points. The order exempts law enforcement, emergency and medical workers, residents, credentialed media, and individuals commuting to or from work.
Mayor Karen Bass said the curfew was prompted by the looting of 23 businesses and widespread graffiti reported across downtown on Monday night. “If you drive through downtown L.A., the graffiti is everywhere and has caused significant damages to businesses and a number of properties,” she said, according to LAist.
More Than 300 Arrests Across a Single Day
On Tuesday, over 300 people were arrested in downtown Los Angeles. According to city officials, 205 individuals were arrested before the curfew was even announced at 5:30 p.m., and an additional 100-plus arrests were made during the night for curfew violations. Law enforcement noted that those detained after 8 p.m. were cited only for violating the curfew, with no charges of looting or vandalism during that period.
Leading up to the curfew order, LAPD reported 27 arrests on Saturday, 40 arrests on Sunday, and more than 100 arrests on Monday. Charges during those days included failure to disperse, vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon.
“The curfew is meant to curb the actions of ‘bad actors who do not support the immigrant community,’” Mayor Bass said. While many demonstrations have remained peaceful, the city experienced a noticeable escalation in violence and property damage over the weekend.
Federal Raids and Community Response
According to the Los Angeles Times, approximately 300 individuals have been detained by federal immigration agents in California since Friday, June 6, though exact figures remain unconfirmed.
Local officials, including members of the Los Angeles City Council, condemned the immigration sweeps, stating they “sow terror” and disrupt the safety of immigrant communities. The Downtown Los Angeles Residents’ Association described the federal actions as an “inhumane threat,” while also calling for an end to vandalism, stating such behavior “doesn’t leave anyone in our neighborhood, including our immigrant neighbors, safer or better off.”
These protests have mobilized a diverse coalition of immigrant rights advocates, including Korean American organizations and other community groups who say the actions are unjust and harmful to families and workers.
State Lawsuit and Federal Tension Escalate
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles, calling President Donald Trump’s order to send National Guard and U.S. Marines “a brazen abuse of power.” Mayor Bass confirmed that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is reviewing similar legal options.
Meanwhile, hundreds of officers from regional sheriff’s departments and state agencies have been deployed to work with LAPD under a unified command. Mayor Bass said she will evaluate the curfew on a daily basis, in consultation with law enforcement and elected officials, and expects the restriction to remain in place for several more nights.
With immigration enforcement operations ongoing and large numbers of National Guard troops still present in the city, officials are bracing for continued protests and have urged demonstrators to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
