LA lifts downtown curfew after protests over immigration raids ease
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Mayor Karen Bass ends curfew in downtown Los Angeles after protests over immigration raids subside.
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US police detain a protester at the US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons after federal immigration authorities conducted an operation on June 6, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday officially lifted a downtown Los Angeles curfew that was imposed last week following immigration raids and ensuing protests.
The curfew, which initially applied to a roughly one-square-mile area of the city’s downtown, had been introduced to deter unrest after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented migrants sparked local outrage.
The restriction, in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. since last Tuesday, was first eased on Monday when the start time was pushed to 10 p.m. With reports of violence and property damage in significant decline, the mayor announced its full termination on Tuesday.
“The curfew, coupled with ongoing crime prevention efforts, have been largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community,” Mayor Bass said in a statement.
The decision marks a shift in the city’s response to a week of heightened tensions that followed intensified immigration enforcement operations by ICE.
Officials stated that the security measures helped de-escalate the situation, which had initially been marked by incidents of vandalism and looting.
Effective today, I am lifting the curfew in Downtown Los Angeles.
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 17, 2025
As we continue to adapt quickly to the chaos coming out of Washington, I’m prepared to reinstate it if necessary.
The safety and stability of LA remains my top priority.
Immigration raids trigger backlash against Trump policies
The enforcement actions prompted one of the most intense public backlashes to President Donald Trump’s immigration policy since his return to office in January.
His administration's renewed efforts to deport undocumented migrants have placed him at odds with Democratic leaders in California, who have openly opposed the tactics employed.
Los Angeles, a city with a large immigrant population, witnessed large-scale protests following the raids.
Demonstrators accused the Trump administration of targeting vulnerable communities, and local officials, including Bass, pushed back against what they viewed as heavy-handed federal actions.
Despite the tensions, city officials credited the curfew and policing strategy for limiting further damage and violence. Law enforcement reported that no major incidents occurred in the final nights of the curfew, suggesting a return to relative calm.
While the curfew has now been lifted, LA Mayor Bass emphasized that the city remains committed to community safety and protecting the rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status.
