LAPD fires rubber bullets at protesters near City Hall

(NewsNation) — A tense showdown is unfolding outside Los Angeles City Hall as LAPD declares an unlawful assembly.

Protesters were given a 10-minute dispersal order before police began firing flash bangs, rubber bullets and crowd control munitions. Commercial-grade fireworks have also erupted from within the crowd.

Federal LA response a way to take power from locals: Mayor

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Wednesday laid blame for escalating protests on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“A week ago, everything was peaceful in the city of Los Angeles,” Bass said. “Things began to be difficult on Friday when raids took place.”

Bass said the White House provoked the protests.

“I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go in reaching in and taking power from a governor, taking power from a local government and leaving residents in fear,” Bass said.

Officials from nearby cities also spoke, talking about the value of immigrants to the community and pleading for the humanity of all. They condemned the separation of immigrant families during and the fear that immigration raids are sparking in the community.

Bass also condemned those who committed violence or looting, saying they were “not supporting the cause of immigrants” by potentially triggering a great reaction from the Trump administration.

Hundreds were arrested Tuesday as thousands of National Guard troops were standing by at Trump’s behest. Speaking to reporters, Bass said the curfew in LA will continue as long as needed. She said a night without arrests would be an indicator that a curfew may be lifted.

A U.S. Northern Command spokesperson told NewsNation 700 U.S. Marines are “conducting training in Los Angeles” on Wednesday but have not yet been deployed in action. The Marines will be tasked with protecting federal functions, personnel and property.

The protests — which began Friday after federal immigration raids in LA — have caused chaos in the nation’s second-largest city, inspired similar rallies across the country and reignited tensions between Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the week, with “No Kings” events planned across the country on Saturday to coincide with Trump’s military parade through Washington.

ICE raids church in Downey, California, detains congregant

A church in Downey, California, was raided Wednesday by ICE agents, according to Union del Barrio and the Community Self-Defense Coalition. Witnesses say federal agents pushed the church’s pastor during the operation, and at least one member of the congregation was detained.

Reverend Tanya Lopez, senior pastor at Downey Memorial Christian Church, described witnessing five men in plain clothes with police badges and bulletproof vests detaining an individual.

“He could have just been walking down the street and choosing to walk through our parking lot,” Lopez said. “A lot of people do that all the time.”

Lopez said she approached the agents, demanding they identify themselves and asking the detained man not to sign any documents. At one point, she claims an agent pointed a rifle at her when she attempted to get closer to the vehicle.

Protesters arrested, charged

Authorities announced that two people are facing federal charges for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at police during the protests. Two other individuals are facing federal charges for allegedly throwing objects at law enforcement.

The Los Angeles Police Department announced separately that two officers were injured during protests overnight.

The LAPD made 203 arrests for failure to disperse, 17 for curfew violations, three arrestes for possession of a firearm, one arrest for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and one arrrest for discharging a laser at an LAPD airship.

During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said civil unrest is trending downward but announced five examples of charges already filed:

• Juan Rodriguez, of Gardena, is charged with one felony count of assault on an officer after allegedly distributing and throwing commercial-grade fireworks. An officer was injured. He faces up to six years and four months in state prison.
• Randy Paul Ruiz and Georgina Ravellero are charged with two felony counts of assault on an officer. They allegedly drove motorcycles into a line of police officers, injuring one and knocking others down. They face up to six years and four months.
• Timmie Paulk and Raven Mitchell face felony counts of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft after allegedly stealing from a store and fleeing in a car. Each faces up to three years in prison.
• Ulysses Sanchez is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and misdemeanor reckless driving and drug paraphernalia possession. He faces 25 years to life if convicted.
• Christopher Gonzalez and Jocelyn Johnson are charged with conspiracy to commit vandalism and two felony counts of vandalism. They face up to three years and eight months in prison.

“Law enforcement has done its best to protect protesters’ First Amendment rights,” Hochman said. “But when people cross the line into violence and illegal activity, they will be prosecuted as criminals.”

GOP senator launches probe into protests

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., announced on Wednesday that he would start an investigation into “who is funding the LA riots.”

“This violence isn’t spontaneous. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism, I’m launching an investigation to find out,” Hawley said in a social media post.

Border Patrol chief says National Guard ‘needed’ at LA protests

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks told “Morning in America” on Wednesday that National Guard and Los Angeles Police Department backup was necessary to control protests, as some turned violent.

“To the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens,” the Department of Homeland Security posted on X.

Mayor Karen Bass sets curfew amid LA protests

Bass declared a local emergency and implemented a curfew for the city: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time. Officials said the restriction aims to deter vandalism and looting.

Police made arrests as soon as the curfew took effect, while members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields. The curfew is expected to last several days, Bass said.

The curfew doesn’t apply to residents who live in the designated area, people who are homeless, credentialed media or public safety and emergency officials, according to LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

Immigration protests erupt across US

Protests erupted Tuesday in Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Portland, New York and more, echoing the demonstrations in LA.

In Chicago, the city’s transit authority temporarily suspended bus services to the Loop, its downtown neighborhood, as protests and marches spread.

NewsNation affiliate WGN reported a car appeared to drive through a crowd of marching protestors, narrowly missing them. It is unclear if the person in the vehicle has been apprehended by law enforcement.

New York authorities said they arrested more than 80 people overnight following a demonstration at the New York ICE Bureau in Federal Plaza.

In El Paso, Texas, activists gathered in the city’s downtown San Jacinto Plaza in solidarity with California’s communities, NewsNation affiliate KTSM reported.

“What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is not new. It’s the amplification of a strategy we’ve endured at the border for years,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director for Border Network for Human Rights, in a news release. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday night he planned to deploy the state’s National Guard to “ensure peace and order.”

“Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest,” Abbott said on social media.

Marines, National Guard deployed to LA protests will cost $134M: Pentagon

According to the Pentagon, the deployment of troops to California will cost at least $134 million and mainly cover “just the cost of travel, housing and food” for about 700 active-duty Marines and more than 4,100 National Guard troops sent to protect federal buildings and personnel.

“We stated very publicly that it’s 60 days because we want to ensure that those rioters, looters and thugs on the other side assaulting our police officers know that we’re not going anywhere,” Hegseth told lawmakers.

Trump, Newsom clash over LA protests

The war of words between Trump and Newsom has escalated alongside the protests.

In sending troops to LA, Trump cited Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which allows the president to “call into federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary” when there is a rebellion, an invasion or the danger of either happening.

Newsom called the deployment a threat to democracy and sued the administration. Though a judge did not grant an injunction on Tuesday, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta told NewsNation on Wednesday that Trump has overstepped.

“There’s existing law that governs what the president can do and can’t do. The president has invoked a specific statute to call in the National Guard that he believes authorizes him … and that law requires that there be a rebellion there,” Bonta said Tuesday on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

The president has not ruled out invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to use the military to conduct civilian law enforcement activities.

The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

NewsNation’s Anna Kutz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.