Troops have arrived in Los Angeles under federal orders, not to assist in disaster relief this time but to enforce immigration policy.
President Donald Trump’s recent decision to deploy troops and Marines to the city, citing a surge in undocumented migration and “urban disorder,” has reignited deep tensions and widespread fear, especially among Latino communities. In neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and South Central, the signs are unmistakable: armored vehicles rumble through residential streets while immigration sweeps ramp up under the cloak of national security.
For many immigrant families, this is not policy. It’s personal—more whispers at the grocery store. More parents are warning their kids what to do if something happens while they’re away at work.
A 23-year-old woman, born and raised in L.A., said her parents are afraid to leave the house. They’ve been here for over two decades. They clean homes, they pay taxes, they’ve never had any problems, she said. Now, they hesitate before stepping outside.
“My mom said the other day, ‘What if I don’t come back?’” the woman told California Latino News. “It wasn’t a joke. She meant it. I’ve never seen her like this before.”
The woman asked not to be named. Her fear isn’t just for her parents. It’s for herself, her younger siblings, and everything they’ve built here.
“I don’t understand how this became normal. We don’t feel safe. And we haven’t done anything wrong.”
Tensions have spiked since reports of increased immigration enforcement started circulating. But what began as a rumor is now a reality. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, citing a surge in undocumented migration and urban disorder.
Military vehicles have been spotted in residential neighborhoods, and immigration sweeps have intensified. For many, it feels like the city is under siege.
Trump’s decision provoked sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the federal deployment illegal and an assault on civil rights. The Newsom administration filed a lawsuit challenging the use of emergency powers to override state control of the National Guard.
Andrés Jaramillo, 31, owns a small print shop in Echo Park. He was born in the U.S., the son of Colombian immigrants. He sees both sides.
“Look, I believe in this country. My family worked hard to make it here,” he said. “I support immigration. We are a country of immigrants. But I also think if someone is out here committing crimes, yeah, they should be sent back. We have to have some rules,” the man explains in an interview with CA Latino News.
Even so, he doesn’t support the idea of sending in the military.
“That crosses a line. That’s not justice, that’s intimidation,” Jaramillo said. “That’s not how you treat people who are just trying to survive.”
All across the city, community centers are overwhelmed. Churches are holding emergency workshops. Schools are fielding questions from worried parents. The fear is real, and it’s spreading fast.
“We just want to live,” says the young woman. “We’re not asking for special treatment. We just want to be treated like human beings.”
Los Angeles has always been a place where immigrants could find a way forward. But for many, that promise feels out of reach right now. What comes next is unclear, but the message many are hearing isn’t about safety or justice. It’s about being surrounded, targeted, and pushed out. By policy. By force. And by fear.
Cover Photo: Protestors march in Los Angeles (Credit: Alex Segura)