On Sunday, Los Angeles exploded in a day of passionate protest. Demonstrators protested at the White House to demand an end to recent immigration enforcement actions taken by former President Donald Trump. Thousands of demonstrators jammed the streets. They expressed their frustration on Trump and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who were standing right outside the federal building guarding their post. The demonstration highlighted the national debate over immigration policy and enforcement practices in the United States.
Our protest coincided with what appeared to be a maximally staffed group of CBP officers, about 2 dozen in total. They stood up to the cameras like news anchors, helmet visors up and calm. Most all of them donned sunglasses, giving them an intimidating look as they later moved to calm the crowd’s anger. They were followed by armed officers sporting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insignia. This demonstrated a willingness to work together to control the narrative as tempers started to flare.
At the time, Mayor Karen Bass condemned the deployment of CBP officers. She criticized them for “posturing,” rather than engaging in productive discussion. City and state leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, took to Twitter to vent their outrage. Newsom stated, “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” implying that the former president’s policies exacerbated existing issues in immigration enforcement.
The protest was not limited to just visible law enforcement. Its intention was to focus on the emotional and social effects of Trump’s immigration crackdowns. A large caravan of DHS and Border Patrol vehicles forced their way through the crowd. Demonstrators vociferously shouted down both Trump and the ICE enforcement teams. Many of the protesters claimed that the protests illustrated their views on oppression and their right to assemble.
“People experiencing oppression are expressing their first amendment rights.” – Angelica R
The protest was charged with palpable energy. Demonstrators surrounded the national guard and CBP officers, who were then trapped by protesters and swarmed by dozens of Los Angeles police cruisers. In this dangerous climate, Congresswoman Maxine Waters mocked the national guard, saying, “Who you going to shoot? This exchange perfectly illustrated the level of frustration shared by almost everyone in the room.
With tensions having already boiled over, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was reluctant to drop the tear gas. This reluctance was in sharp contrast to the tactics used by other law enforcement agencies at similar protests around the country. The LAPD’s decision—whatever the rationale—might well have been shaped by a concern with keeping calm in an atmosphere of increased anger and community scrutiny.
The presence of the national guard federalized the highly charged atmosphere even more. In addition, it was Trump himself who had requisitioned state national guard members to help enforce attack immigrants, an act that he used to stoke public outrage even more.
“This is not the making of a dictatorship,” Angelica R continued, emphasizing her concerns about governmental overreach.
The dramatic standoff between demonstrators and police brought into stark relief the deepening rift in popular sentiment on the issue of immigration reform. Most of these protesters were there to denounce the harm that Trump has caused to their communities around the country, and what he represents.
“This is the description of a dictatorship,” Angelica R asserted, further voicing her fears regarding the implications of aggressive enforcement measures.
The rally in Los Angeles was not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of dissent against federal immigration policies. These protests are a manifestation of widespread frustration over the harm these policies have caused to marginalized communities. Demonstrators waved colorful signs and chanted slogans, filled with fervor. Their fierce determination gave voice to the expanding movement seeking to protect immigrant rights and ensure humane treatment.