Newsom’s office, meanwhile, posted a meme of an AI-generated voice resembling Star Wars’ Chancellor Palpatine to read out Trump’s recent statements against a backdrop of Clone Troopers from the movie series.
So far, the Los Angeles protests have been largely confined to a few square blocks of downtown in a city covering some 1300 square kilometres, and other suburbs and cities around the wider region.
Unrest has spread to other cities, including New York and Chicago, with protesters clashing with police, and local officials warning about the potential for broader disorder.
In New York – where Mayor Eric Adams has said he won’t allow the “violence and lawlessness” seen in Los Angeles – demonstrators returned to Lower Manhattan on Wednesday evening (New York time), a day after more than 80 protesters were detained.
Groups of people chanting and holding anti-ICE signs once again gathered around the area of Foley Square. New York police did not immediately have information about possible arrests.
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In Chicago, thousands of people gathered on Tuesday night, marching into the city’s business district and sometimes clashing with police. At one point, a driver sped through the protests, striking one pedestrian, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The protests follow increased ICE arrests in the city, where federal agents recently detained at least 10 undocumented immigrants after asking them to show up at routine immigration check-in appointments.
Chicago officials said on Wednesday that the administration would deploy specialised ICE units to the city, according to CBS News.
“There will be tactical teams, mini-tanks, other tools they use in which they plan to do raids, as we saw in Los Angeles,” said Cristina Pacione-Zaya, chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
‘Chaotic escalation’
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also vowed to use National Guard troops to maintain order at planned protests this weekend after demonstrations broke out in Dallas and Austin.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has criticised the lack of communication from federal authorities and said local law enforcement had handled virtually all crowd control and arrests so far.
She warned that further militarisation could inflame the situation, describing Trump’s actions as a “chaotic escalation”.
Immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles are expected to continue daily for at least a month, local officials told Bloomberg. Raids have targeted communities and job sites ranging from the city’s Fashion District to Home Depot car parks frequented by day labourers.
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“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe – you’re trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop,” Bass said.
Bloomberg, AP
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