Los Angeles Protests broke out across the city on Friday night, with police arresting a number of violent instigators after issuing dispersal orders.

In the afternoon, thousands of protesters rallied in front of City Hall before many marched to the federal detention center, where a group of violent agitators swarmed the area, pushing a large construction dumpster and blocking the entrance to the building’s loading dock.

Los Angeles Police Department shares video In a separate post on social media about the unrest, he added that authorities used pepper balls and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

“We had hoped that today’s demonstration would be peaceful, however, as you can see in this video, violent agitators invited the LAPD for their actions,” the department wrote.

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A protester attacks a police officer with a skateboard during a “national shutdown” protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a press conference Friday night that five people had been arrested for failing to disperse. The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately confirm how many people had been arrested.

The unrest came as cities across the country took part in “ICE Out Everywhere” protests. Alex Pretty shot and killed and Renee Good involving federal agents in Minneapolis.

Bass warned protesters rallying against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown to remain peaceful, saying violent unrest was counterproductive.

“I think protests are extremely important, but it’s also important that these protests are peaceful and don’t involve acts of vandalism,” Bass said. “This does not in any way influence the government to bring about any type of change.”

Bass asserted that violent protests are “exactly what I think this administration wants to see happen.” She added, “Don’t be surprised if the military re-enters our cities.”

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The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order at around 5:45 pm local time, ordering all protesters in the Alameda Street area between Union Station and First Street to leave or face arrest.

Police also placed the city of Los Angeles on tactical alert due to violent agitators in Alameda between Temple and Aliso Streets.

Protesters hide behind dumpsters and try to shield them from police during a “state lockdown” protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. (Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images)

While some protesters dispersed, others stayed and continued throwing bottles and rocks at officers, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Additionally, federal authorities were hit with “debris, bottles and other objects,” leading authorities to declare the gathering at the detention center unlawful, the department said.

An aerial view of an anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles on Friday, January 30. (KTV)

“Protesters are actively fighting with police after multiple dispersal orders were issued,” the LAPD wrote on

represent. Maxine WatersCalifornia Democrats showed up at protests early Friday, chanting “ICE get out of Los Angeles” in front of police officers in riot gear.

“What I saw in the detention center was people exercising their constitutional rights,” Waters said. “Of course, they’re trying to tear gas everyone right now. The tear gas is in the air, but people are not moving.”

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In his own remarks, Bass also linked the protests to the recent arrest of the former CNN host in Los Angeles Don LemonCharged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the FACE Act for participating in anti-ICE protests that disrupted church services in Minnesota.

“Here you have a world-renowned journalist, Don Lemon. No one questions that he is a journalist, and for him to be arrested for doing his job and to try to limit his ability to do his job is just a gross abuse of our justice system,” she said. “I think about it every day, this is the 250th anniversary of our democracy, and I just wonder how much our democracy is going to be eroded by this administration.”

This is a development story. Please check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.