Protests Erupt Over Trump’s Immigration Raids

Protests erupt across US over Donald Trump’s immigration raids, igniting a firestorm of unrest in cities from Los Angeles to New York as of June 12, 2025. The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, targeting undocumented workers in workplaces like garment districts and farms, has sparked nationwide demonstrations, military deployments, and curfews. Here’s the raw, real-time breakdown of this breaking news in 2025, diving into the heart of the global politics fueling this crisis.

Los Angeles: The Epicenter of Rage

Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, is burning with dissent. On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stormed the city’s garment district, arresting workers suspected of being undocumented immigrants. The raids, part of a broader push by the Trump administration to meet a reported 3,000 daily detention quota, triggered immediate backlash. By June 9, protests had erupted, with thousands flooding downtown streets, chanting slogans like “Chinga la migra” and waving Mexican flags. Over 400 people were arrested by June 11, as reported by The Independent, with police deploying non-lethal munitions and enforcing a 9 p.m. curfew.

The situation escalated when President Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines into Los Angeles on June 9, a move California Governor Gavin Newsom called an “unlawful deployment.” Tensions flared as protesters clashed with law enforcement, some hurling commercial-grade fireworks and rocks. Videos on X captured burning cars and looted stores, with @Anewz_tv reporting mass arrests and tear gas blanketing the streets. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed 200 additional arrests on June 10, as crowds defied the curfew.

Nationwide Fury: Protests Spread Coast to Coast

The unrest isn’t confined to Los Angeles. By June 11, 2025, protests had erupted in at least 35 U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, and Seattle, according to The New York Times and The Guardian. In New York City, thousands marched peacefully near the ICE field office, chanting against Trump’s immigration sweeps. Chicago saw smaller but intense gatherings outside immigration courts, while Austin reported clashes with police using non-lethal munitions, leading to several detentions. Omaha protesters rallied against the detention of 80 workers at a meat-packing plant, and San Francisco saw demonstrations in solidarity with Los Angeles.

The Washington Post reported that these protests, sparked by ICE raids targeting garment workers, day laborers, and car wash employees, reflect growing anger over what many call an indiscriminate crackdown. California Senator Alex Padilla labeled it “a crisis of Trump’s own making,” arguing that the deployment of federal troops escalates tensions unnecessarily. Meanwhile, posts on X, like one from @ferozwala, noted the spread of discontent to Washington, D.C., Texas, and beyond, with some protests turning violent, involving stone-throwing and looting.

Trump’s Iron Fist: Military Deployment and Threats

President Trump’s response has been uncompromising. On June 9, 2025, he deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, citing the need to protect federal property and ICE agents. The Pentagon confirmed the troops are authorized to “temporarily detain” protesters, a move California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, called a violation of state sovereignty. Trump doubled down on June 10, warning from the Oval Office that any further riots would be met with “equal or greater force.” He even suggested, half-jokingly, that ICE chief Tom Homan arrest Governor Newsom, though Homan clarified no such plans existed.

Fox News reported Trump’s plans for nationwide immigration raids similar to those in Los Angeles, signaling an escalation of his deportation campaign. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate panel on June 11 that the National Guard deployment could expand to other cities if law enforcement feels “threatened.” This hardline stance has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders, with Newsom accusing Trump of a “brazen abuse of power.”

What It Means Now: A Nation Divided

The immediate impact of these protests and raids is a deeply polarized America. The Labor Department reported on June 11, 2025, that over a million foreign-born workers have left the U.S. labor force in the past two months, driven by fear of ICE raids targeting farms, construction sites, and restaurants. NPR noted a “chilling effect” on industries, with construction and hospitality sectors feeling localized labor shortages. Meanwhile, high-profile detentions, like that of TikTok star Khaby Lame, have amplified public outrage. Lame was released and allowed to leave the U.S., but his case underscores the broad reach of Trump’s policies.

Economically, the raids are disrupting communities. In Los Angeles, families of detained workers, like Kimberly Hernández’s father at Culver City Express Hand Car Wash, gathered to demand justice, as reported by Reuters. Immigrant rights groups, such as Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, held press conferences outside raided sites, highlighting the human cost. Politically, the deployment of federal troops has sparked a legal showdown, with California suing the Trump administration for overstepping federal law. A CNN survey found 39% of Americans support the Los Angeles protests, while 40% oppose them, reflecting a nation split on immigration enforcement.

The Human Toll: Stories from the Ground

Beyond the numbers, the raids have torn through communities. In Santa Ana, California, protesters gathered on June 9 after ICE raids targeted local businesses, with U.S. Border Patrol agents arresting demonstrators, according to AFP. In Chicago, witnesses reported seeing families separated as ICE agents detained workers without prior criminal records. Tom Homan defended the raids on Fox News, claiming they targeted “bad people” like gang members, but admitted non-criminal immigrants were also detained. This has fueled accusations of indiscriminate enforcement, with activists planning up to 1,800 protests nationwide on June 14, coinciding with Trump’s birthday military parade in Washington, D.C.

X posts from verified accounts like @Reuters captured the raw emotion, with families demanding the release of detained loved ones. One protester in Los Angeles, injured by a less-lethal round on June 8, displayed their wounds outside City Hall, as reported by AP News. The image of a protester cooling off with an icicle while waving a Mexican flag became a symbol of defiance. These personal stories, amplified by social media, are driving the narrative of resistance against what many see as an authoritarian crackdown.

Global Politics in 2025: A Broader Context

Trump’s immigration raids are not happening in a vacuum. They’re part of a broader global politics shift in 2025, where hardline immigration policies are gaining traction. In Europe, far-right parties are pushing similar anti-immigrant agendas, citing economic strain and cultural identity. Reuters reported on June 10, 2025, that the European Union is debating stricter border controls, inspired partly by U.S. actions. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the raids align with Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations, a cornerstone of his 2024 election victory. This has intensified global debates on migration, with UN News calling for humane treatment of migrants amid rising detentions worldwide.

The economic crisis tied to labor shortages is also global. In the U.S., the National Association of Home Builders noted a slowdown in construction due to workers going into hiding. Similar trends are emerging in countries like Canada and Australia, where immigration crackdowns are disrupting industries. The Financial Times reported on June 11, 2025, that global supply chains could face disruptions if labor shortages persist, tying Trump’s policies to a larger economic narrative.

Clashes and Curfews: The Law Enforcement Response

Law enforcement’s response has been swift and, at times, brutal. In Los Angeles, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell reported on June 11 that officers faced “commercial-grade fireworks” capable of causing serious harm. Police used crowd control projectiles and officers on horseback to disperse crowds, leading to mass arrests. In New York, law enforcement clashed with protesters near the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 10, detaining several demonstrators. The use of non-lethal munitions has drawn criticism, with Amnesty International calling for restraint in a June 11 statement.

Mayor Karen Bass’s imposition of a 9 p.m. curfew in downtown Los Angeles, with no end date, has been a flashpoint. Dozens of Los Angeles-area mayors banded together on June 11 to demand an end to the raids, arguing they spread fear and destabilize communities. The Associated Press reported that the curfew sent most protesters home, but isolated incidents of violence continued, including two individuals accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at police.

Legal Battles and Political Firestorms

The deployment of federal troops has sparked a legal showdown. California’s lawsuit, led by Newsom and Bonta, alleges that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated federal law by federalizing National Guard troops without state approval. The lawsuit, filed on June 10, claims the deployment is intended to “prevent a rebellion” or respond to a “foreign invasion,” misapplying a law meant for extreme circumstances. The Trump administration filed a response on June 11, defending the deployment as necessary to protect federal agents.

Politically, the raids have deepened divisions. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on June 11 that he would send National Guard troops across his state to support Trump’s policies, escalating tensions in Austin and Dallas, where protests have already turned violent. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in Congress are pushing for investigations into ICE’s tactics, with Senate hearings scheduled for June 15, 2025, according to The Washington Post.

Economic and Social Ripples

The economic fallout is immediate. The Labor Department’s June 11 report highlights a million foreign-born workers exiting the labor force, impacting industries like agriculture and construction. In California, raided farms are struggling to find workers, with some crops left unharvested. Restaurants and car washes, key targets of ICE raids, are also facing staffing shortages. NPR’s Scott Horsley noted that while national job numbers remain stable, localized disruptions are significant.

Socially, the raids have created a climate of fear. Immigrant communities are going into hiding, with schools reporting lower attendance as families keep children home. Community organizations like Trabajadores Unidos are mobilizing, but the scale of the crackdown—3,000 detentions a day, per The Guardian—has overwhelmed local resources. The detention of union leader David Huerta during the Los Angeles raids, later released, has galvanized labor unions to join the protests.

Looking Ahead: A Volatile Weekend

The situation is far from resolved. Activists are planning up to 1,800 protests nationwide on June 14, coinciding with Trump’s birthday military parade in Washington, D.C. The Guardian reported that these demonstrations aim to send a message against what protesters call an authoritarian overreach. Trump’s warning of a “very big force” against protesters at the parade has raised fears of further violence. Al Jazeera noted that Trump’s comparison of the protests to a “foreign invasion” has only inflamed tensions.

With more raids planned, as confirmed by Fox News, and the potential for National Guard deployments in other cities, the U.S. is bracing for a turbulent weekend. The outcome of California’s lawsuit and the Senate hearings could shape the trajectory of Trump’s immigration campaign, but for now, the nation remains on edge. Stay sharp with Ongoing Now 24.