Los Angeles is no stranger to political activism. From civil rights marches to labour strikes, the city has long stood at the frontline of America’s socio-political reckoning. Today, amid surging anti-immigration sentiment in some corners of the US, Los Angeles has once again emerged as ground zero – this time for immigrant protests that are growing louder, larger, and more defiant.
But what exactly makes LA such a potent hotbed for immigrant-led demonstrations?
A city of immigrants, shaped by immigration
At its core, Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants. According to US Census data, over 35 per cent of its nearly 3.9 million residents were born outside the United States — one of the highest percentages of any major American city. More than half of these foreign-born residents are naturalised citizens. The result is a dynamic, multicultural metropolis where immigration is not a fringe issue but a lived, daily experience for millions.
That experience extends far beyond citizenship paperwork. Nearly 900,000 undocumented immigrants reside in LA, many of whom have been in the US for over a decade, according to a 2020 University of Southern California Dornsife study. Their roots in the city run deep; they are parents, workers, taxpayers, and students. And crucially, they live in what researchers call "mixed-status households," where some family members are documented while others are not. This makes anti-immigration laws intensely personal — any crackdown can split a family, deport a parent, or threaten a child’s stability.
Not just a minority – the majority
Los Angeles doesn’t just include immigrants; they form the majority in many ways. Over 1.8 million residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. Another half a million are of Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent. More than 1.15 million people say they are “some other race,” and over half a million identify as two or more races.
More than 56% of Angelenos speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish dominating. In essence, Los Angeles is not just a city where immigrant voices are present; it’s a city where they define the culture, economy, and social fabric. So, when those voices are threatened, they respond with mass mobilisation.
Why protests are surging?
With federal crackdowns, state-level restrictions, and rising rhetoric targeting immigrants, fear has turned into fury. Policies like stepped-up ICE raids, threats to end DACA, and restrictions on asylum have triggered a visceral response across Los Angeles.
For many immigrants in LA, the fear isn’t hypothetical – it’s an immediate, day-to-day reality. The risk of deportation, even for long-time residents with families and jobs, is omnipresent. And for those in mixed-status households, any knock on the door could be a life-changing event.
LA’s history of resistance
Los Angeles also carries a long legacy of immigrant-led activism. From the Chicano Movement in the 1960s to the massive “Day Without an Immigrant” marches in 2006, the city has always pushed back when immigrant rights were under threat. Today’s protests are a continuation of that legacy, amplified by a new generation that’s more politically engaged and digitally connected.
The city’s deep network of immigrant advocacy groups – legal aid organisations, sanctuary churches, student coalitions, labour unions – means that protests here are not one-off events. They are organised, sustained, and often coordinated with national movements.
What’s the situation on ground?
Downtown Los Angeles was largely calm overnight into Wednesday, with police arresting at least 25 people for violating a curfew after a fifth day of protests against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Heavily armed security officers, including several riding horses, patrolled near government buildings, while men boarded up storefronts after dark on Tuesday to protect against vandalism.
The demonstrations, which began Friday, and isolated acts of violence prompted Trump to take the extraordinary step of sending in troops, over the objection of the state governor.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the curfew -- meant to stop vandalism and looting -- was in effect within one square mile (2.5 square kilometers) of the city's more-than-500 square mile area from 8:00 pm and 6:00 am (0300 to 1300 GMT).
That zone was off-limits for everyone apart from residents, journalists and emergency services, she added.
Protests against immigration arrests by federal law enforcement have also sprung up in cities around the country, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin.
On Tuesday, in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven, dozens of demonstrators waved American and Mexican flags and held signs against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency that has ramped up arrests and deportations of migrants under Trump.
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