LOS ANGELES – Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (LA), has announced a curfew in the city’s downtown area following widespread property damage during protests against U.S. immigration enforcement.
Mayor Bass stated that the curfew applies within a one-square-mile (approximately 2.6 square kilometers) radius of the downtown area. It took effect from 8:00 PM on June 10 until 6:00 AM on June 11 local time (14 hours behind Thailand). She emphasized during a press conference that the unrest was limited to specific areas, and most demonstrators were peaceful. Only a small group of agitators were responsible for the violence and looting.
The protests in LA began on June 6 after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a sweep arresting undocumented immigrants. On June 9, the Department of Homeland Security reported that ICE was detaining about 2,000 undocumented migrants per day — a sharp increase from the Biden administration’s average of 311 per day during fiscal year 2024.
Police reported 197 arrests from the protests yesterday. Meanwhile, approximately 700 U.S. Marines gathered in Seal Beach, about 50 kilometers south of LA, awaiting deployment orders. This is in addition to the 4,000 National Guard troops President Donald Trump ordered to be stationed in LA to maintain order. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the move, calling it illegal, unnecessary, and politically motivated.
Thai nationals have been advised to avoid protest zones and closely follow updates from the Thai embassy for safety. (TNA)
