Protests in Los Angeles against anti-immigrant raids: clashes with police and National Guard

Violent demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles against President Trump’s immigration policies. Area declared illegal gathering zone. Harsh reactions from Democratic governors

Downtown Los Angeles was the scene of serious clashes between law enforcement and thousands of protesters who took to the streets against the anti-migrant raids ordered by President Donald Trump. Authorities declared the entire area an “illegal assembly zone”, while police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

Protesters gathered near City Hall, the federal courthouse and a detention centre where people arrested in recent days are being held. In the evening, a group also blocked one of the city’s main motorways. Although the protest was initially peaceful, tensions escalated at several points. Several self-driving vehicles were set on fire during the clashes.

Trump sends in the National Guard: accusations of abuse of power

Tensions escalated after Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles, ignoring opposition from local authorities. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the intervention ‘an alarming abuse of power,’ accusing the president of ‘creating a crisis’ with an attitude he compared to that of a dictator. Newsom called for the immediate withdrawal of troops and the president’s resignation.

A joint statement signed by other Democratic governors reiterated their support for Newsom: ‘It is important to respect the executive authority of governors in the management of their National Guards,’ they stressed.

New ban on entry into the United States for 12 countries

Meanwhile, shortly after midnight, the new ban on entry into the United States announced last week by the White House came into force. The measure, signed by Trump, blocks access to the country for citizens of twelve countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. This move further fuels the climate of national and international tension surrounding the current administration’s immigration policy.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)