China issues safety alert over LA protests, troop deployment
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The warning follows a weekend of widespread protests that erupted after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained at least 44 individuals during raids in downtown Los Angeles.
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A protester holds a sign as a Waymo taxi burns near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP)
Amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles triggered by sweeping immigration arrests, the Chinese Consulate General has issued a rare public safety advisory, urging Chinese nationals in the area to exercise heightened caution as the city faces an unprecedented federal military deployment.
In a message posted Monday on its official WeChat account, the consulate warned citizens to avoid risky areas and monitor the situation closely. "The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles reminds Chinese citizens in the Los Angeles area to closely monitor official announcements and media reports, remain highly aware of safety risks, strengthen personal precautions, stay away from gatherings, crowded or unsafe areas, and avoid traveling at night or alone," the statement read.
Militarized crackdown
The warning follows a weekend of widespread protests that erupted after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained at least 44 individuals during raids in downtown Los Angeles. The operation, reportedly expanded under pressure from senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, has been criticized for indiscriminately targeting undocumented immigrants and, in some cases, even legal residents.
In response to the protests, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, an extraordinary move made without the consent of local or state officials. According to the Financial Times, this is the first such deployment in a major US city without local approval since 1965. Analysts warn the use of military forces under these conditions signals an authoritarian shift in the administration’s approach to civil unrest.
Read more: Trump deploys National Guard to LA amid immigration raid protests
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth escalated the rhetoric further by suggesting that US Marines could be deployed under the Insurrection Act, a law last invoked during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. "The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE," he said, adding there is "ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job."
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the decision, stating, "The president intervened and now we have riots." Representative Nanette Barragán similarly denounced the federal move, saying, "We don’t need the help."
Federal overreach
Over the weekend, video footage showed military-style vehicles and heavily armed officers stationed near federal facilities. Riot control tactics, including gas canisters, were reportedly used to break up crowds. Authorities confirmed dozens of arrests, and confrontations also spread to neighboring areas such as Paramount.
¿Qué opinas? Durante las protestas contra el ICE en el centro de Los Ángeles, manifestantes arrojaron piedras contra las instalaciones del Departamento de Policía local. pic.twitter.com/1PwBMz6AIl
, La Crónica de Hoy (@LaCronicaDeHoy) June 9, 2025
The protests and federal response have drawn widespread criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates. The American Civil Liberties Union has begun preparing lawsuits, warning that the president’s actions may violate constitutional limits on domestic troop deployment.
"This isn’t just about immigration," said Andrew Weinstein, a former US Public Delegate to the United Nations. "It’s about using every lever of government to erode checks and balances and centralize control."
With Los Angeles home to large immigrant and international communities, the city’s growing militarization has sparked fears of broader civil rights violations and deepening political polarization.
