Dear CalMatters reader,

All eyes were on Los Angeles this week as protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics spread and, in some cases, erupted in vandalism and destruction. It all started Friday, June 6 when immigration enforcement sweeps at a downtown clothing factory sparked demonstrations. It led to the arrest of David Huerta, the leader of the California janitors’ union, law enforcement's use of less-lethal rounds against protesters and journalists – that injured several people – and the defacement of vehicles and buildings. 

In response, President Donald Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard soldiers to downtown LA on Sunday against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom – a rare move with little precedent. Trump then went on to order the deployment of active-duty Marines as well. California sued over the deployments, and a federal judge agreed Trump’s “actions were illegal,” though the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly stayed the ruling. 

Meanwhile, residents throughout Los Angeles are continuing to protest immigration enforcement agents wherever they find them. California Democrats like U.S. Senator Alex Padilla are raising their voices against the raids. And the fragile truce between Trump and Newsom appears to be over: Trump threatened to arrest Newsom, while Newsom gave a fiery speech calling on Americans to peacefully “stand up” against authoritarianism. 

Phew! Did I miss anything?

P.S. - Exercising your First Amendment rights is a crucial part of maintaining our democracy. If you plan to attend a demonstration, here are some things to think about when it comes to your mobile phone.

Important lessons can be learned from mass removals of Latinos in U.S. history. Besides injuring vulnerable immigrants, the measures had political consequences in the long run, with some even benefiting immigrants. 

As immigration enforcement escalated in recent weeks in San Diego, a dramatic raid in one neighborhood led to a remarkable response from nearby residents.