I'm here in downtown Los Angeles, reporting live. The streets here are empty, except for the tension that hangs heavy in the air. It's been five days since the ICE raids began, and the anger hasn't faded. Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency yesterday as a crowd gathered near the federal building. You could feel the frustration radiating from them. Law enforcement responded with a visible presence, including National Guard troops on the streets.
The situation feels volatile. A curfew is in effect for a one-square-mile area downtown. People are urged to stay indoors, but the energy on the streets is palpable. Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in, criticizing the deployment of the National Guard, calling it a "brazen abuse of power" fueled by President Trump's actions. He believes sending in the Marines from a base outside the city adds fuel to the fire.
The protests started after ICE began raiding homes in the area. Many in the community feel these operations are tearing families apart. While most of the demonstrations have been peaceful, there have been tense moments between protesters and police. The sight of the National Guard here is controversial. Some argue their presence escalates the situation, while others see it as necessary for control.
Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters, pointed out an interesting detail. He noted that the Marines deployed to assist ICE aren't typically trained for the kind of scenarios unfolding downtown. That's a potential complication some observers are worried about.
The standoff continues into the night. The question everyone seems to be asking is: what happens next? The tension here is thick, and everyone knows the stakes feel incredibly high.