New reports have emerged of escalating tensions across the United States as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prepared to deploy tactical units to five Democrat-run cities—New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and northern Virginia’s Alexandria—amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations.

The announcement follows days of violent protests in Los Angeles, which have led to a citywide lockdown and drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

These developments have ignited a fierce debate over immigration policy, federal authority, and public safety, with both sides accusing the other of exacerbating the crisis.

Los Angeles has been at the epicenter of the unrest, with protests erupting in response to ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants. For five days, rioters have clashed with law enforcement, setting cars ablaze, looting businesses, and attacking officers with rocks, fireworks, and cement bricks.

The violence prompted Mayor Karen Bass to declare a local emergency and impose an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the downtown area, where the unrest has been most intense.

Bass emphasized that the curfew is limited to the affected zones, stating, “Some of the imagery of the protests and the violence gives the appearance as though this is a citywide crisis, and it is not.”

At least 23 businesses have been looted, and the city is grappling with widespread vandalism, including graffiti blanketing multiple blocks.

The situation escalated further when President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 700 Marines and 4,100 National Guard troops to assist the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in restoring order.

Trump described the city as a “trash heap” with “entire neighborhoods under control” of criminals, vowing to “liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again.”

His rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, who argue that the federal response is inflaming tensions rather than resolving them.

In a nationally televised address on June 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered an impassioned critique of the federal government’s actions, warning that the deployment of troops and ICE agents signals a broader threat to democracy.

“This isn’t just about protests here in Los Angeles,” Newsom said, visibly emotional. “When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next.”

Newsom accused the Trump administration of targeting vulnerable communities and undermining the principles of checks and balances, calling it a “wrecking ball to our founding fathers’ historic project.”

While Newsom briefly condemned the violence, warning protesters that they would face jail time, his primary focus was on criticizing the federal response.

He argued that the administration’s aggressive tactics are part of a broader pattern of authoritarianism, citing Trump’s past actions, such as firing government watchdogs, as evidence of overreach.

The planned ICE operations in New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Alexandria have sparked protests in these areas as well.

In Portland, a small group of demonstrators camped outside an ICE facility, vowing to remain until their demands are met. In Austin, a liberal enclave in Texas, marchers clashed with police, resulting in injuries to four officers.

Atlanta saw protesters throwing fireworks at law enforcement, while Chicago’s downtown area experienced vandalism and confrontations.

These incidents reflect growing resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which has prioritized the arrest of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories, including gang members and those involved in drug trafficking, assault, and other offenses.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that ICE operations in Los Angeles alone resulted in 118 arrests, including five gang members.

However, the aggressive tactics have drawn criticism for their impact on broader communities, with fears of deportations stoking anxiety in immigrant-heavy cities.

Misinformation has further complicated the situation, with social media posts exaggerating the scale of the unrest and spreading false claims, such as allegations of federal agents questioning elementary school children or pallets of bricks being supplied to protesters by Democratic leaders.

The unrest has led to high-profile incidents, including the arrest of the twin daughters of Los Angeles Chief Deputy Controller Rick Cole for allegedly assaulting police officers during the riots.

The sisters, Lucia and Antonia Cole, face charges that could carry three to five years in prison if convicted. Their arrest has added a personal dimension to the crisis, highlighting the deep divisions within the city.

Nationally, the response to the ICE raids and the Los Angeles lockdown has polarized political discourse.

Trump and his supporters argue that the operations are necessary to address a “foreign invasion” and restore law and order, with the president condemning protesters for burning American flags while waving those of other countries.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders, including Newsom and Mayor Bass, have accused the administration of using excessive force and targeting vulnerable populations to score political points.