Los Angeles faced turmoil following immigration raids that sparked widespread protests, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy thousands of US military troops to the city. The raids initially led to peaceful demonstrations in Latino-populated areas, but tensions escalated when federal authorities resorted to flashbang grenades and teargas, resulting in violent clashes and numerous arrests over the weekend in downtown LA, Compton, and Paramount.

Criticism mounted against Trump for exacerbating the situation by dispatching 700 marines and 2,000 national guard troops to LA, in addition to the 2,000 troops already sent earlier. While Trump defended the move as necessary for restoring order, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the administration of using the city as a testing ground, and Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the troop deployment as deliberately provocative.

Residents of LA are encouraged to share their perspectives on the recent events, including their reactions to the immigration raids and the presence of national guard and marine troops in the city. The Guardian is facilitating this through a secure form for individuals aged 18 and above, ensuring anonymity for those who prefer it. All data collected will be used solely for the feature and will be deleted when no longer needed, safeguarding contributors’ privacy.

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