Tensions are escalating between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to grip Los Angeles and spread to New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Texas, and other cities.
Trump deployed about 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA against Newsom's wishes.
A federal appeals court Thursday delayed an order requiring the Trump administration to return control of the National Guard to Newsom, dealing the administration a temporary reprieve to what would have been a major reversal of its policy on the protests.
Several people protesting ICE detentions were arrested in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday. Officers began detaining people after the protest, which started in Foley Square near City Hall, began moving down Broadway before being stopped by police at the intersection of Broadway and Duane.
Law enforcement officers operate during a protest against federal immigration sweeps near the U.S. immigration court at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City, U.S., June 10, 2025.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
The arrests appeared to take place after protesters did not clear a crosswalk when ordered to by police.
Hundreds of protesters remain in the area, chanting behind barriers, with dozens of officers standing by.
-ABC News' Will McDuffie
Jun 11, 2025, 6:49 PM EDT
'You spit, we hit': Immigrant charged with felony for allegedly spitting on ICE officer
An immigrant in Los Angeles has been charged with one count of assault of a federal employee for allegedly spitting on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that the suspect, Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison for the alleged crime.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
STOCK PHOTO/Adobe
The incident happened earlier this week when the officer was executing a warrant for Bastida's arrest, according to the DOJ. Bastida allegedly spat at the officer through an iron security gate on his door.
ICE officials eventually forced entry into the residence and arrested Bastida.
"This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit – with a felony charge," said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. "Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly."
Jun 11, 2025, 6:26 PM EDT
At least 5 criminal cases related to LA protests, DA says
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced during a press conference on Wednesday that there have been at least five criminal cases stemming from the ongoing immigration protests in Los Angeles.
Juan Rodriguez, from Gardena, California, was charged with one felony count of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and advocating violence against an officer that has caused injury. He faces six years and four months in state prison, according to the DA. Rodriguez is accused of distributing and throwing commercial-grade fireworks at police officers on June 8.
Customs and Border Protection police stand outside the Federal Building, covered in graffiti following protests triggered by immigration raids, in Los Angeles, June 9, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Randy Ruiz and Georgina Ravallaro were charged with two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer and face six years and four months in state prison. They are accused of driving motorcycles into police officers, injuring one and knocking down several others.
Timmy Paulk and Raven Mitchell have been charged with one felony count of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft for allegedly robbing and facilitating the robbery of a Nike store on June 8. Paul is accused of stealing multiple items from that store and getting into the car driven by Mitchell. They each face up to three years in state prison.
Ulysses Sanchez is accused of recklessly driving a minivan in downtown LA on June 8. He's charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, one misdemeanor count each of reckless driving and possession of a smoking device. He faces 25 years to life because of the three-strike rule.
A protestor is detained in downtown Los Angeles, June 8, 2025.
Eric Thayer/AP
Christopher Gonzalez and Jocelyn Johnson have been charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit vandalism and two felony counts of vandalism. They face three years and eight months in state prison. They are accused of vandalizing an apartment complex and the Hall of Justice, respectively.
"If people want to engage in crimes, we will prosecute them," Hochman said, adding, "hurling bricks, hurling cinder blocks, hurling fireworks, will not be tolerated in this county now or ever."
The DA did note that peaceful protests have largely outweighed instances of violence. "We estimate that there's probably thousands of people who've engaged in legitimate protests," Hochman said.
-ABC News' Jenna Harrison Esseling
Jun 11, 2025, 5:48 PM EDT
500 National Guard troops trained to accompany ICE raids, general says
Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of U.S. military forces in Los Angeles, told ABC News that about 500 of the National Guard troops have been trained to accompany ICE on immigration operations.
The general stressed, however, that these troops are not carrying out law enforcement in these operations. That is being done by the ICE agents and the trained troops are carrying out protection for ICE during these operations.
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division are briefed by battalion leadership while rehearsing crowd control tactics at a base in the greater Los Angeles area, June 10, 2025.
Cpl. Logan Courtright/U.S. Marines via Reuters
The service members have ammunition in their clips for their rifles, but there are no rounds in the chamber, according to Sherman.
There are 4,700 troops, made up of National Guardsmen and Marines, deployed to Los Angeles.
