An emergency curfew has been imposed in parts of downtown Los Angeles (LA), California, where protests against the arrest operations of illegal immigrants are ongoing.
Karen Bass, the mayor of LA, announced during a press conference on the 10th (local time) that "a curfew will be in effect in the downtown area from 8 p.m. today until 6 a.m. the following day."
Mayor Bass added, "I am imposing the curfew to stop looting and prevent property damage." The curfew is limited to an area of approximately 2.6 square kilometers in downtown, which is about 0.2% of the total area of LA.
The curfew will initially be enforced for just one day. However, the LA law enforcement authorities stated that it could last for several days depending on the situation.
Mayor Bass warned that "law enforcement will arrest and prosecute individuals who violate the curfew."
Residents of the curfew area, employees of companies in the area, qualified journalists, and homeless individuals are exempt from the curfew order. According to Jim McDonnell, the chief of the Korean National Police Agency, homeless individuals are also excluded from the curfew.
In LA, protests against a large-scale operation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to arrest illegal immigrants near downtown have been ongoing for the fifth day.
According to Chief McDonnell, nearly 200 people have been arrested as demonstrators have occupied the downtown streets over the past five days. Some clashes between protesters and police have turned violent.
Mayor Bass said, "On the 10th alone, 23 businesses were looted," and stated that she plans to consult with elected leaders and law enforcement officials regarding the extension of the curfew tomorrow.