Los Angeles - Saba:
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has made "massive arrests" in downtown Los Angeles, where people gathered despite a nighttime curfew after days of protests that President Donald Trump described as an invasion by a "foreign enemy."
The LAPD said on Twitter, "Several groups continue to gather on First Street between Spring and Alameda. These groups are being dealt with and extensive arrests are being made. A curfew is in place."
This came hours after Mayor Karen Bass declared, in statements to reporters, "A local state of emergency and a curfew have been imposed in downtown Los Angeles to stop vandalism and looting."
A 2.5-square-kilometer area of the city, which covers more than 1,200 square kilometers, will remain closed until 6:00 a.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT) to everyone except residents, journalists, and emergency personnel, according to the mayor.
The second-largest US city has been rocked by looting and vandalism after violence erupted overnight during what had initially been peaceful protests against the detention of immigrants.
The curfew began shortly after President Donald Trump declared Los Angeles was being overrun by "foreign enemies," speaking from a military base where he addressed the protests in the city.
Speaking to soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump emphasized that this lawlessness would not continue, saying, "We will not allow federal law enforcement to be attacked. We will not allow an American city to be overrun and occupied by foreign enemies," referring to the protests sparked by immigration raids.
He continued saying, "What you are witnessing in California is a comprehensive assault on peace, public order, and national sovereignty, carried out by rioters waving foreign flags to continue a foreign invasion of our country."
Trump launched a scathing attack on the protesters, calling them "animals" and accusing them of "proudly flying the flags of other countries."
He also directly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Joe Biden.
Following days of nighttime clashes between law enforcement and protesters opposing the policy of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, the Republican president on Monday made the extraordinary decision to deploy 700 Marines.
Trump expanded his criticism to include Europe, considering the protests in Los Angeles to reflect the "chaos" caused by uncontrolled immigration and warning of a repeat of the same scenario in several European countries.
He stated that "the entire world now sees that uncontrolled immigration leads to chaos, disorder, and lack of order."
He added, "You know what? This is happening in Europe, too. This is happening in many European countries. They'd better do something about it before it's too late."
Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, along with 700 Marines, as part of what he called a necessary escalation to control the situation in the city, despite local law enforcement insisting they were capable of controlling the situation.
A military spokeswoman said the troops would be deployed to the streets later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Their mission will be to protect federal facilities and accompany "federal officers on immigration enforcement operations to provide them with protection."
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