President Donald Trump has banned the use of masks at protests in the U.S., after 2 days of unrest in Los Angeles due to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
2,000 National Guard troops had to be deployed to Los Angeles to manage clashes during these protests, authorised under the Insurrection Act of 1807 by the Trump administration.
The last time such a deployment happened was in the 2020 George Floyd protests and the 1992 Rodney King riots. President Trump praised the National Guard for ending two days of violence, clashes and unrest.
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He, however, openly criticised Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, calling them incompetent and unable to handle their tasks.
“Just look at how they handled the fires, and now their very slow permitting disaster. Federal permitting is complete!” President Trump stated on his Truth social media account.
Newsom, however, labelled the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory,” suggesting no unmet need for such a response. Mayor Bass condemned the ICE raids, highlighting community fear.
Mayor Karen Bass, in response, condemned the ICE raids, emphasising community fear due to federal actions and stating the city was working with law enforcement to manage the situation.
The protests in Los Angeles began on June 6, 2025, in response to immigration raids conducted by ICE.
These raids targeted multiple locations, including Home Depot stores, a garment factory, and a warehouse, resulting in the arrest of at least 44 migrants on Friday, June 6, for immigration violations and obstructing justice.
By Saturday, June 7, the protests had escalated, with violent clashes reported in downtown Los Angeles and the Paramount area, particularly at 6400 Alondra Blvd., where fiery confrontations occurred.
Protesters, numbering a few hundred on the second day and reportedly up to 1,000 rioters on Friday, displayed Mexican flags and chanted slogans such as “ICE go home” and “No justice, no peace.”
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Tactics included throwing rocks, burning a car and a flag, and using cement bricks, which contributed to the volatile atmosphere. At least one protester and one Border Patrol agent were injured during these clashes.
Earlier in March, Trump had threatened to cut federal funding for schools allowing “illegal protests” and explicitly stated “NO MASKS!” in the context of college protests, particularly pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
“These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will not be tolerated. Also, from now on, masks will not be allowed to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why???” Trump added, questioning protesters’ motives.
Trump’s broader immigration policy aims to deport record numbers and lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, with ICE targeting 3,000 arrests per day.
This policy has affected legal residents, with legal challenges and community backlash expected to continue.
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