On June 7, Los Angeles - the city of immigration dreams - experienced the second consecutive day of being rocked by smoke, explosions, and counter-attacking screams. Hundreds of people poured into the streets, confronting federal law enforcement directly after immigration enforcement enforcement (ICE) enforcement campaigns arrested at least 44 people.
ICE chased people in the middle of the street, without warning. This is organized chaos, the Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass frankly described the search.
On the evening of June 6, protests began spreading throughout the central area. Just two hours later, the police declared a tactical state in the whole city. Spicy air, smoke bombs, and rubber bullets were used. The demonstrators shouted "Leave it!" and "Don't deport anymore", holding up banners demanding full rights for immigrants.
As of June 7, the violence has not cooled down. Paramount - a small city more than 20km from central Los Angeles - has become a new hot spot. Four protests were arrested, according to Jose Luis Solache state lawmaker. Meanwhile, the FBI officially stepped in, investigating the accusation that the protester harassed the operation of the federal agency.
The US Department of Justice issued a strong message, calling the protests illegal and demanding that Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass take immediate action.
Immigration enforcement is protecting American lives. If anyone touches them, they will be prosecuted to the end, warned Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
However, the California government denied it. Los Angeles District Police confirmed that they did not participate in any ICE campaign, only taking on traffic coordination and crowd control.
The crisis is escalating as Washington is threatening to cut across a series of federal budget sources for California. An immigration war is no longer just a legal issue, but is spilling onto the streets, into real battles.
Video circulating on social media shows photos of demonstrators being controlled on the ground, as dozens of police equipped with anti-violence fencing. A woman burst into tears: My husband was arrested this morning, I dont know where he is now.
The air was as tense as a instrument. ICE said it would not stop and the campaigns would continue. Meanwhile, protests prepared for the third day on the streets.
