Los Angeles, Jun. 11, (dpa/GNA) – A night-time curfew in a portion of protest-hit downtown Los Angeles will remain in effect for at least one more night, the Los Angeles Police Department announced on Wednesday.

The curfew will run from 8 pm Wednesday to 6 am Thursday (0300 GMT to 1300 GMT Thursday).

Mayor Karen Bass first imposed the measure on Tuesday and has indicated it could remain in place for several days. She said it was to stop vandalism and looting during protests against the expanding raids by federal agents on undocumented immigrants.

Bass has stressed that the curfew area is tiny – amounting to less than 3 square kilometres in a city that spans some 1,300 square kilometres.

Further protests against US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies took place overnight in Los Angeles, remaining largely peaceful.

Demonstrations of various sizes have also popped up in a slew of other places, including New York and Philadelphia.

Dozens of protesters were arrested in the two East Coast cities on Tuesday night, with more rallies planned in the coming days.

Los Angeles has seen days of demonstrations opposing Trump’s hardline stance on migrants and recent deportation raids.

In response, Trump mobilized 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 marines for deployment in Los Angeles, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Bass.

The soldiers are arriving gradually; according to media reports, no marines have yet been seen in downtown LA.

City leaders say Trump’s moves are out of proportion to the protests and only inflaming tensions.

GNA

PDC