Anti-ICE protesters set fire to driverless taxis in Los Angeles on the third day of riots despite authorities trying to drive out them using rubber bullets and tear gas. This comes as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raid to detain and deport immigrants.
Protesting President Donald Trump’s clampdown on illegal immigrants, the rioters were seen chanting “burn, burn, burn”. At least five Waymo self-driving taxis were seen erupting into flames in the videos circulated online. This has raised health concerns about lithium batteries, because of which the Los Angeles Street between Arcadia and Alameda has been closed indefinitely.
Waymo, the self-driving taxi company owned by Google parent Alphabet, has stopped services in the protest areas to protect its fleet. Each of the robotaxis cost around $150,000. Some rioters were seen spray-painting the Waymo cars and standing atop the taxis as they waved Mexican flags. In other places, the rioters waved Palestinian flags, asking the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to “quit their jobs”.
This comes despite Trump mobilising 2,000-strong National Guard troops. He vowed to deploy 500 Marines if the situation gets out of control. The LAPD has been allowed to wield “less lethal munitions” to drive out the rioters. However, LAPD chief revealed that his team is “overwhelmed” by the vandalism.
Around 2,000 rioters took over the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles and blocked the traffic for hours. North and south-bound traffic came to a grinding halt with authorities asking motorists to turn back.
Two officers were injured by motorcyclists who rammed the LAPD skirmish line. Though the freeway was reopened for a while, it was shut down again as rioters started throwing stones at cars passing underneath.
Slamming California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.”
He directed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to take necessary steps to “liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion”.
