Less than three years before Los Angeles is set to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic Games, the city is grappling with a wave of social unrest that has raised serious doubts about its readiness to host the event. A series of federal immigration raids carried out earlier this week ignited widespread protests, confrontations with police, and the deployment of the National Guard. These events have intensified concerns about the city’s capacity to ensure both security and social cohesion.
The unrest began on June 6, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, supported by Homeland Security Investigations, conducted coordinated raids across several neighborhoods, including Westlake, the Fashion District, and Paramount. According to federal officials, 44 individuals were arrested for immigration-related offenses. An additional arrest occurred during a protest, involving SEIU California President David Huerta, who was later treated for injuries sustained during his detention. Over the course of the week, the number of detentions reportedly rose to 118, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The raids triggered immediate backlash. Protesters quickly gathered outside federal buildings and detention centers, chanting against deportations and demanding accountability. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations escalated into clashes with police. Authorities declared unlawful assemblies in parts of downtown and South Los Angeles. Flashbang grenades, tear gas, and non-lethal rounds were used to disperse crowds. Helicopters circled overhead as riot units clashed with demonstrators in a city that, until recently, had promoted its stability and inclusiveness to the International Olympic Committee.
Immigration protests put 2028 Games in jeopardy
Tensions rise less than three years before the 2028 Games
In a controversial move, President Donald Trump, currently serving his second term, ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops. By June 8, 300 had already been stationed within the city. This marked the first federally directed deployment of the Guard in California since the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. The order bypassed state authority, escalating tensions between the White House and California officials.
Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the raids and the deployment as “cruel, chaotic, and politically motivated.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the operation as “an attack on our community values and trust.”
The response has ignited a heated debate about the image Los Angeles is projecting in the lead-up to the Olympic Games. “You don’t secure the Olympics with flashbangs and tear gas,” said a city council member who asked to remain anonymous. “You do it by building trust, and right now that trust is unraveling.”
Photographs and videos from the city show National Guard vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods, families sheltering in fear, and demonstrators pinned behind riot shields. These images stand in stark contrast to the spirit of openness and unity that the Olympic Games are meant to represent.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the ACLU, have urged the International Olympic Committee to monitor the situation closely and to ensure that the Games do not proceed under conditions of repression or widespread fear.
Anti-ICE protestors and LAPD face off on the second day of intense clash over President Trump’s immigration policies
Turning turmoil into reform
Foreign governments, particularly in Latin America and the Middle East, have also raised concerns. Several embassies have requested clarification regarding the treatment of their nationals during the raids. Some officials have hinted that if the situation continues to deteriorate, their countries may reevaluate their participation in the 2028 Games.
For Olympic stakeholders, including international broadcasters and global sponsors, the unrest represents more than just a public relations crisis. It threatens the carefully crafted narrative of the Los Angeles bid, which emphasized diversity, innovation, and civic unity. That foundation now appears to be under strain.
Still, amid the turmoil, some civic leaders see an opportunity. They argue that the current crisis could become a turning point, provided that city and federal officials respond with meaningful reforms that address systemic issues in immigration policy, law enforcement, and public trust.
“The world is watching,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. “This city still has a chance to show what leadership looks like, not just in sport, but in justice.”
With the countdown to the 2028 Games well underway, Los Angeles finds itself at a crossroads. The decisions made in the coming months will not only shape the future of the Olympics. They may also determine whether the Games are remembered as a global celebration of unity or as a symbol of unresolved division.
