CIVICUS global civil society alliance urges the United States of America (USA) authorities to respect the constitutional right to peaceful protest. We call on the Trump administration and security forces to stop using violence against those peacefully standing up for their migrant neighbours. We condemn the abuse of Presidential powers for political gain and social division.
Most protests have been peaceful and in the defence of the rights of migrant communities in Los Angeles and elsewhere. However, following sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on undocumented immigrants, clashes erupted from 6 June onwards. The ICE mobilization, followed by additional military deployments, marks a disturbing and unprecedented escalation in federal overreach to target migrant communities and suppress dissent.
President Trump has ordered 700 Marines and 2000 additional National Guard Members and has pointed at further deployments.
We urge the President and his administration to hear the demands of the protestors and stop delegitimizing those exercising their constitutional first amendment right by using slurs such as 'radical leftists, instigators, paid troublemakers, and insurrectionists.’
“On his first day in office 2025, President Trump signed an executive order pardoning 1500 violent protestors who were sentenced to imprisonment for preventing the peaceful transfer of power, assaulting law enforcement officials, trespassing, and destroying public property.
“The hypocrisy and double standards are obvious. Trump administration officials' claims that they are enforcing law and order in California by bringing in federal troops without consulting the elected governor of the state ring hollow. They should stop using false pretences and uphold the constitution without fear or favour,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Secretary General of CIVICUS alliance.
On Sunday, 8 June tension escalated as the police deployed tear gas and pepper spray on protesters gathered outside a detention centre where immigrants were detained. The police also declared the protest an ‘unlawful assembly’ and authorized the use of ‘less lethal munitions.’
350 protestors have been arrested so far in at least five cities, including a handful of juveniles. Several casualties have been reported among protestors. Among them was journalist Lauren Tomasi, a U.S. correspondent for Australia's 9News, who was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting on the raids.
In recent days, Los Angeles has become the battlefield of a nation-wide President Trump policy focused on ‘mass deportation’ operations on immigrants in US history. The inhumane and likely illegitimate attempt has been contested by many people across the country, city and state authorities, and other administrative bodies. Trump policies have faced numerous legal challenges, with multiple courts issuing orders to temporarily halt their implementation.
Since returning to office on 20 January 2025, President Donald Trump has unleashed a barrage of executive orders and actions severely impacting activists, civil society organisations, and independent media. The government has aggressively targeted free speech and peaceful assembly rights. It has challenged academic independence of universities, particularly where student movements have led protests and expressed dissent. Numerous non-US-citizens have been deported or threatened with deportation for participating in peaceful protests, including for supporting Palestine.
In March 2025, the CIVICUS Monitor added the USA to its watchlist due to an alarming and rapid deterioration of civic freedoms. USA is rated ‘narrowed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor which tracks the global fundamental rights of freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression.
CIVICUS calls on the USA government to:
- Guarantee the basic human rights of the people, including freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
- Stop the use of force or any form of violence against peaceful protesters.
- Respect the rights of migrants.
