Summer of Rage 2.0: The California edition Experts weigh in on ICE raids

Protest demonstrations continue across several U.S. states. In California, they were sparked by anti-immigration raids carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Over the course of a week, 118 individuals were detained in the Los Angeles area on suspicion of violating immigration laws.

On Monday, June 9, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) reported the arrest of around 60 participants in the unrest. According to law enforcement, what began as a peaceful demonstration in the city escalated into violence, including assaults, vandalism, and property damage. The event was subsequently declared unlawful. That same day, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also reported the arrest of 56 individuals during similar disturbances.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the unrest in California on his social media platform Truth Social as a “invasion and occupation” by “illegal  aliens and criminals.” Initially, he ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the region.

Later, the state’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, confirmed that 4,000 National Guard personnel had been stationed in Los Angeles following a federal decision.

In addition, 700 U.S. Marines were sent to the city from Camp Pendleton military base. According to the presidential administration, this move was prompted by an increase in threats against federal employees and facilities, AFP reports.

Can the ongoing events be seen as evidence that Trump has launched an active campaign to tackle the consequences of illegal immigration? Are the migrants themselves at the core of the protests? And is there reason to believe that government agencies will be able to regain control, put an end to the unrest, and begin deporting those who violate immigration laws?

American experts assisted Caliber.Az in clarifying the situation.

Political analyst and publicist Samson Katsman noted that for the fifth consecutive day, riots have continued in downtown Los Angeles, where participants are expressing a so-called “peaceful” protest against ICE raids in Latino neighbourhoods.

“Let’s leave the term ‘peaceful’ to the conscience of those commentators who see rioters rampaging—setting cars and American flags on fire, attacking police officers, breaking windows of federal buildings, and blocking traffic.

The looting of an Apple store was a striking addition to the protesters’ so-called ‘peaceful’ intentions. Their clear organisation and preparation are astonishing. It is evident that all of this was well funded and planned.

By the end of June 10, it was possible to cautiously suggest that federal forces—4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines deployed by Trump—were gradually gaining control of the situation.

The state leadership has initiated legal proceedings against the presidential administration, accusing it of ‘escalating the situation and violating the state’s rights’,” the journalist said.

According to him, despite the harsh rhetoric from the Democrats, the fact remains: chaos and anarchy in the streets, damage to private and public property, and attacks on law enforcement officers are unacceptable.

American society still remembers the looting, arson, and riots of the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd. However, there is no unity even within the Democratic ranks.

For example, Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania John Fetterman stated: ‘My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.’

Can we say that Trump has just now begun his fight against illegal immigration? No. He is simply consistently carrying out his campaign promises, and the events in Los Angeles are just one episode of this strategy.

He is acting decisively. Even if he does not fully accomplish the task within his term, the steps being taken are a move in the right direction,” Katsman emphasised.

Professor and analyst Grigory Ioffe, in turn, reminded that the fight against the consequences of illegal immigration began as soon as Trump came to power.

“The reaction to these efforts simply varies by region, as does the concentration of illegal migrants and the degree of tolerance from local authorities.

In coastal California, especially in Los Angeles, tolerance of immigration law violations has become an integral part of the local political culture. From the outside—even to an American observer—the scenes of violence against federal agents under waving Mexican flags appear utterly absurd.

People striving to remain in the U.S. and avoid deportation simultaneously engage in actions that undermine the very legal basis of their stay. This paradox is, in essence, the core of the entire problem.

Liberal media often blame the federal authorities for the unrest, claiming that if the raids on especially dangerous illegal immigrants hadn’t taken place, there wouldn’t have been any disturbances. Of course, there wouldn’t.

But the White House is determined to put an end to widespread lawlessness. In fact, the protesters are providing the Trump administration with perfect footage for propaganda: they are throwing stones at the police while waving the flags of a foreign country,” Ioffe explained.

According to him, the stance of some Democrats and their allied media outlets, who accuse federal authorities of instigating the unrest, is “unsustainable.”

“This position, as veteran American journalist Brit Hume put it, is unsustainable — it doesn’t hold up against common sense.

That’s why dissenters are emerging within the Democratic Party itself, such as Senator John Fetterman. The same is happening in the media — take CNN, for example, where journalists like Scott Jennings express similar views.

I am confident that Trump will not only succeed in suppressing the unrest but also discredit California’s authorities. It is unlikely that Governor Newsom will be able to run for president in 2028. And if he does, he won’t see success,” the expert concluded.