Los Angeles has been caught in the middle of intense protests and riots sparked by recent ICE immigration raids.
What began as demonstrations has quickly escalated into violent confrontations, with protesters throwing bricks and cinder blocks at law enforcement vehicles, setting self-driving cars on fire, and clashing with police and federal agents across the city.
FBI Identifies Suspect Throwing Cinder Blocks at Officers
The FBI recently named Elpidio Reyna, a 40-year-old Compton resident, as the suspect caught on camera hurling cinder blocks at law enforcement vehicles during the unrest.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced Reyna’s addition to the FBI’s most wanted list with a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Pam Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General, warned on Fox News that Reyna and others involved won’t be able to hide for long.
“That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house as we speak,” she said.
The FBI considers Reyna armed and dangerous, and he faces up to eight years in prison for what has been called a “brazen attack” that endangered federal officers.
Scenes of Chaos: Protests Turn Violent Across the City
Videos show Reyna wearing a green and orange Los Angeles Lakers cap and a mask while breaking cinder blocks before throwing them.
This violent act was just one of many during the protests, which included rioters setting self-driving “WAYMO” cars ablaze, wielding hammers, and carrying Mexican flags.
Over the weekend, more than 70 people were arrested amid ongoing clashes, as the city struggles to regain control.
Police have been met with fireworks, bricks, and tear gas from the crowd, forcing them to fire rubber bullets in response.
Military Reinforcements Arrive as City Braces for More Unrest
In response to the escalating violence, about 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion began mobilizing near Twentynine Palms, roughly 140 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
They will join 2,000 National Guard troops already stationed in the city, all deployed following a directive from President Donald Trump.
The Marines are combat-trained veterans with experience in conflict zones like Syria and Afghanistan.
Their role is to protect federal buildings and personnel, including ICE agents at the center of the unrest.
Authorities emphasize these troops are trained in de-escalation and crowd control but will be ready to respond with force if necessary.
Political Backlash Grows Over Federal Troop Deployment
The deployment of federal troops without the California governor’s request has sparked fierce criticism.
Governor Gavin Newsom called the move reckless and accused the Trump administration of escalating tensions instead of calming them.
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta went further, calling the National Guard deployment “unlawful” and filing a lawsuit against the federal government.
Mayor Karen Bass described the situation as a “test case” of federal overreach, saying the city’s hardworking residents live in fear due to the ICE raids and federal presence.
She criticized the Trump administration for undermining local authority and increasing anxiety among immigrant communities.
Law Enforcement Struggles to Control the Growing Violence
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned that officers are overwhelmed by the chaos, with rioters shooting commercial-grade fireworks and wearing masks in defiance of Trump’s order banning face coverings at protests.
McDonnell also highlighted logistical challenges posed by the overlapping deployment of local police, National Guard, and federal troops.
Several buildings have been broken into and vandalized, and large parts of downtown LA remain under “unlawful assembly” orders and road closures.
Police have placed the city on “tactical alert” to quickly reallocate officers as incidents erupt.
Federal Guidelines Aim to Balance Force and De-escalation
Pentagon officials clarified that troops will carry their standard service weapons but will not use tear gas.
They will be equipped with helmets, shields, and gas masks.
A forthcoming Pentagon memo is expected to outline clear rules of engagement, including the ability to detain civilians temporarily if necessary for safety.
This deployment is being handled without invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows the president to direct federal troops for domestic law enforcement during emergencies.
The last major use of the act was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict.
Local Officials and Residents Voice Fear and Frustration
The protests have left many Angelenos fearful of the next ICE raid or violent confrontation.
Mayor Bass described widespread terror about when and where agents might strike next, affecting families’ daily lives and routines.
The situation has turned neighborhoods into battlegrounds, leaving residents anxious and uncertain.
Pam Bondi likened the chaotic scenes in Los Angeles to those seen in third-world countries, stressing that violent protesters will face federal prosecution.
She promised that anyone assaulting state or federal officers would be held accountable.
Unrest Spreads Beyond Los Angeles
The violence hasn’t been confined to LA. Protests and riots have also broken out in San Francisco, where law enforcement made even more arrests over the weekend—154 compared to LA’s 74.
The ongoing unrest across California signals that tensions remain high and solutions remain elusive as the city braces for more demonstrations in the days ahead.