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By Shane Croucher and Kate Plummer
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Los Angeles police have said they are receiving reports of looting from business owners as videos emerged on social media showing a mass of people running into stores whose frontages had been broken open.
"Business owners are reporting stores are being looted in the area of 6th St. and Broadway," Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) Central Division posted to X. "Officers are en route to the location to investigate." The area referred to is in Downtown L.A.
Police urged all businesses and residents "to report any vandalism, damage or looting to LAPD Central Division so that it can be documented by an official police report. Please photograph all vandalism and damage prior to clean up."
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Why It Matters
Over the weekend, protests in Los Angeles against immigration enforcement escalated in some areas, with isolated incidents of violence and looting. In response, President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order, without California Governor Gavin Newsom's consent.
Immigration remains a central pillar of Trump's second-term agenda. The president has pledged sweeping crackdowns on border security, expanded deportation operations, and an end to federal benefits for undocumented immigrants.
In addition, the administration is invoking the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to broaden deportation authority—a move that has triggered fierce backlash and mounting legal challenges.
The demonstrations mark the most intense wave of public opposition to federal immigration enforcement since Trump returned to office in January.
What To Know
YouTuber BillyJohnOh captured the chaotic looting of a Jordan sneaker store during a livestream. In another video posted online separately, looters can be seen raiding a gas station's convenience store.
Meanwhile, protesters have thrown rocks and hurled Molotov cocktails, the BBC reported. Law enforcement has responded with tear gas and rubber bullets during hourslong standoffs.
During a Saturday evening interview on Fox's The Big Weekend Show, border czar Tom Homan said National Guard units were "mobilizing" to secure areas affected by unrest around raid sites.
"We are making Los Angeles safer. Mayor [Karen] Bass should be thanking us. She says they are going to mobilize—guess what? We are already mobilizing. We are going to bring the National Guard in tonight," Homan said.
Los Angeles County enforces sanctuary policies, with local law enforcement declining to participate in federal civil immigration actions.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!"
California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X, formerly Twitter: "I have formally requested the Trump administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command. We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty—inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X: "We will always protect the constitutional right for Angelenos to peacefully protest. However, violence, destruction and vandalism will not be tolerated in our city and those responsible will be held fully accountable."
What Happens Next
During a press conference on Sunday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that nearly 60 people had been arrested that day.
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