Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew in her city’s downtown Tuesday evening, seeking to avert looting and vandalism as immigration protests stretch into their fifth day.
The attempt to ease tensions came after the Trump administration ordered Marines and California National Guard troops to the region over the objections of Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom. California has sued to reverse the deployment, and the state is awaiting a Thursday afternoon hearing on its request for a restraining order.
“If you do not live or work in downtown LA, avoid the area,” Bass told reporters.
She said the curfew would cover one square mile of the city.
Democrats have insisted the interventions are unnecessary to quell mostly peaceful protests of federal immigration raids in which demonstrators are far outnumbered by local police. Yet videos of protesters throwing rocks at cars, burning self-driving cars and insulting law enforcement have created a national spectacle in California.
The curfew will begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday and last until 6 a.m. Wednesday, and include exceptions for residents of the area, people traveling to and from work and media. Bass said the city would likely impose curfews again over the next few nights.
Trump has promised ongoing, daily immigration arrests in Los Angeles. Guard troops deployed to the region have begun assisting in the sweeps, protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from demonstrators, the Associated Press reported.
Melanie Mason contributed to this story.
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