Anti-ICE Protests Continue in Los Angeles Despite Citywide Curfew

Anti-ICE demonstrations persisted across Los Angeles Thursday night, defying a citywide curfew imposed by Mayor Karen Bass as federal immigration enforcement operations intensify in Southern California.

The 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, intended to curb unrest and restore public order, was extended by Bass following days of escalating protests and confrontations with law enforcement.

Despite the restrictions, dozens of protesters remained in the streets late Thursday. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detained more than 20 individuals, loading them onto a bus after they continued chanting “peaceful protest” past curfew hours.

The protests, which began peacefully, intensified over the weekend, prompting LAPD to declare an “unlawful assembly” on Sunday night. Violent flare-ups included flag burnings, vandalism of police vehicles, and property destruction throughout downtown Los Angeles.

“Agitators have splintered into and throughout the Downtown Area,” LAPD’s Central Division posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Residents, businesses, and visitors should remain alert and report criminal activity. Officers are actively responding to multiple locations to disperse crowds.”

During a Thursday news conference, Mayor Bass announced the curfew would be extended, stating it appeared to be reducing clashes between police and demonstrators.

“We’ve had to impose a curfew to help ensure safety across downtown and surrounding neighborhoods,” Bass said. “But let me be clear: the peace our city needs must begin in Washington. These ICE raids must stop.”

She blamed the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge for igniting tensions, arguing that aggressive federal actions were provoking civil unrest.

Bass joins a growing number of Los Angeles-area mayors calling on the federal government to halt immigration arrests. They argue the raids have destabilized communities and turned peaceful protests into flashpoints for violence.

With input from Fox News