LA Under 2nd Night of Curfew as Trump Crackdown Expands

The White House has defended the actions as necessary to support what they describe as overwhelmed immigration agents and to maintain order

- Agencies

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Police Department moved swiftly on Wednesday night to quell disorder stemming from anti-deportation protests, charging crowds on horses and firing "less lethal" munitions to clear protesters.

After the initial burst of activity, the downtown area — under a second night of curfew imposed by Mayor Karen Bass — was calmer with a heavy police presence designed to prevent a repeat of the unrest that has led to 600 arrests since the weekend and acts of vandalism and looting.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday morning that Los Angeles "was safe and sound for the last two nights", as he hailed troops for helping to restore order in the city after days of anti-deportation protests.

"Our great National Guard, with a little help from the Marines, put the L.A. Police in a position to effectively do their job," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that without the military the city "would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years".

Protests over raids continued to spread across the US, including Spokane, Washington, where Mayor Lisa Brown issued a curfew on Wednesday night and police made 30 arrests, according to media reports. Las Vegas police declared an "unlawful assembly" and fired tear gas at protesters. Demonstrations also have popped up in cities including New York, Chicago and Milwaukee, with protesters clashing with police and local officials.