Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Her Relevance
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico City, has maintained a diplomatic and conciliatory stance. She defends the rights of Mexican migrants while rejecting violence from authorities and protesters alike. Her position holds significant weight due to her political influence and the large Mexican population in Los Angeles, making her words impactful on both sides of the border.
Key Moments in the Conflict
February: Rumors of Raids Spark Protests
- In February, organizations like Union del Barrio and Rapid Response Network mobilized in response to rumors of raids. Some protests and highway blockades took place.
June 6, 2025: Massive ICE Raids in Downtown LA
- On June 6, ICE, along with the FBI and ATF, conducted simultaneous operations in the Fashion District, a Home Depot parking lot, and other locations. They arrested up to 118 undocumented immigrants.
- This led to spontaneous protests with over 200 people gathering in front of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department headquarters.
- Protesters confronted ICE agents with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang grenades for dispersal.
June 7: Continued Protests and Military Deployment
- Protests persisted; the Department of Homeland Security estimated around 1,000 demonstrators.
- In Paramount, protesters blocked a street, and law enforcement used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades against them.
- They regrouped in front of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department headquarters, confronting police officers.
- Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops. The following day, 4,700 National Guard and Marine personnel arrived in the city.
June 8: More Protests and Police Response
- Protesters gathered again in front of the Los Angeles City Hall.
- Guard units dispersed across various city locations, using pepper spray and smoke to separate demonstrators.
- A police officer fired a rubber bullet at an Australian reporter while she was live-streaming.
- Tom Homan, the acting director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at the White House, threatened Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass with federal charges for their response to the raids.
- Los Angeles was placed under tactical alert at 2:30 PM.
- Two officers were injured.
- Protesters blocked US Highway 101.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum disapproved of the violence in the raids and confirmed at least 35 Mexican detainees while calling for peace.
June 9: California to Sue Trump Over Federalization of National Guard
- California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, announced that the state would sue President Donald Trump for federalizing California’s National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
- The U.S. Northern Command deployed 700 Marines to the Los Angeles area in response to protesters.
- Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM, resulting in 195 arrests on the first night.
- 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were deployed.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Sheinbaum of inciting disturbances in Los Angeles; she denied these claims as false.
- Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from Kristi Noem’s press conference as he attempted to speak about immigration raids in California.
June 10: Curfew and Arrests
June 12: Senator Alex Padilla Removed from Press Conference
Reactions to the Conflict
Claudia Sheinbaum maintained a diplomatic stance, defending migrant rights and condemning violence from both authorities and protesters. She criticized opposition figures who accused her of inciting the protests.
Some prominent personalities, including Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, Kehlani, Doechii, Ava DuVernay, Eva Longoria, Chrissy Teigen, and Kim Kardashian, criticized the militarization and labeled the actions as “authoritarian” and “anti-American.”
In the sports world, Dominic Smith (baseball) and Carlos Vela (soccer), along with Eddie Segura, expressed solidarity with the migrant community.
Carlos Vela’s Solidarity Statement
Quiero expresar mi más sincero apoyo y solidaridad.
Los inmigrantes en California son gente trabajadora que merece respeto.
No están solos! 💪🏽— carlos vela (@11carlosV) June 12, 2025
