The protests that began in Los Angeles, California, in response to police raids against undocumented immigrants have now spread to several other cities across the United States.
Last week, US President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, and introduced restrictions on people from seven additional nations.
Police have started detaining undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, and today marks the fourth consecutive day of protests against these operations, the BBC reported.
Authorities have now declared the city’s central area a no-assembly zone.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, San Francisco and New York to show solidarity with protesters in Los Angeles.
Sources indicate that protests in Los Angeles have turned violent, with some vehicles set on fire and reports of looting. The police have declared the city centre an unlawful area for gatherings.
It is also reported that on Monday alone, hundreds of people were arrested in San Francisco.
President Trump has warned that if necessary, alongside the National Guard, he will deploy Marines to control the protests.
According to Trump’s executive order, 4,100 National Guard troops have already been deployed in Los Angeles, although California Governor Gavin Newsom has opposed the move and launched a legal challenge against the federal government.
Newsom accused Trump of taking a “provocative” action merely to gain attention, saying that California does not face a shortage of law enforcement personnel to maintain public order.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has stated that their department was not participating in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
His comments came after mass protests broke out against the arrests carried out by federal forces.
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