Los Angeles police have reported incidents of looting in the downtown area amid widespread protests against the US administration’s immigration policy.
Authorities said reports of looting came from the intersection of 6th Street and Broadway. Officers have been dispatched to the scene to investigate and prevent further unlawful activity.
The protests were sparked by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on June 7 targeting illegal immigrants. The operation led to clashes between police and demonstrators.
In response to the escalating situation, California Governor Gavin Newsom on June 7 threatened that the state might withhold federal tax payments if President Donald Trump’s administration cuts funding to California. On June 8, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that around 2,000 National Guard troops would be deployed to Los Angeles to help maintain order.
California is traditionally a Democratic stronghold, a fact frequently criticized by Donald Trump. In May, the president threatened to cut state funding over the participation of a transgender athlete in competitions. Earlier, the federal government canceled flood prevention projects worth more than $126 million and criticized California’s handling of wildfires.
At his inauguration on January 20, Trump pledged to crack down on illegal immigration by declaring a national emergency at the southern border and starting the deportation process for millions of undocumented migrants.
