Polarization is hard to grasp from a European perspective, but this is a clash of two Americas – How do millions without legal status live and work in “sanctuary cities”? Does Trump really believe he can deport them all?
The situation in Los Angeles remains chaotic, and before it either calms down or escalates further, let’s try to explain what exactly is happening and the background to this conflict, which has stirred fresh turmoil in America following Trump’s deployment of federal troops to the symbolic heart of California. At the center of the unrest is the issue of immigration and the concept of so-called “sanctuary cities.” Here is a deeper overview of the situation and answers to key questions.
What is a “sanctuary city,” and what role does Los Angeles play?
The term “sanctuary city” refers to local communities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities (e.g., ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Various sanctuary measures typically prohibit local police from checking someone’s immigration status during routine procedures or from actively helping in the search for undocumented individuals, unless serious criminal activity is involved.
Los Angeles, while not always formally labeled as such, has for years implemented policies that essentially protect undocumented residents. One example is “Special Order 40” from 1979, which bars police officers from inquiring about a person’s immigration status. In practice, this means people are not arrested solely for being undocumented, but are treated like any other resident. In 2024, Los Angeles officially declared itself a sanctuary city, aiming to provide some degree of protection to families living and working in the city without formal documents.
So, in American so-called “sanctuary cities,” a large number of undocumented immigrants reside. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimated that by early 2022, around 10.9 million individuals were living in the U.S. without legal status. Pew Research Center notes that around 6.5 million of them are concentrated in just twenty major metropolitan areas, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Most of these undocumented individuals either entered the country without valid authorization or overstayed their visas. Despite the ban on legal employment, many work in the informal economy or use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to pay taxes, and their children are allowed to attend public schools thanks to the Supreme Court ruling Plyler v. Doe (1982).
Unlike most European countries, the U.S. has no single national ID card or centralized population registry; in practice, driver’s licenses issued by individual states and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) serve as primary identification.
The political debate over sanctuary cities is extremely polarized. Critics argue that such policies encourage illegal immigration and undermine the rule of law, while supporters claim that limiting police cooperation improves public safety because victims and witnesses of crimes are less afraid to contact authorities.
The decentralized ID system and selective cooperation with federal agencies allow some undocumented immigrants to live for years—sometimes decades—in parts of the U.S., building family and work lives, until federal authorities identify them or they obtain some form of legal status.
Are the migrants in Los Angeles there illegally?
The question “Are they there illegally?” isn’t so simple. Los Angeles is home to people with a wide range of legal statuses:
- Undocumented immigrants (often referred to as “illegals”) are indeed violating immigration law because they lack valid residency permits.
- Asylum seekers – legally present while their applications are processed, often with temporary stay authorization.
- TPS holders – individuals from countries experiencing war, disaster, or similar crises; they reside legally under Temporary Protected Status.
- DACA recipients – young people brought to the U.S. as children.
- Various other temporary categories.
Raids carried out by federal agencies, particularly ICE, often sweep up people with temporary status or pending legal procedures. In the eyes of the federal government, these individuals may be “subject to deportation” if they lose their status, but that doesn’t mean they are all “dangerous criminals.” Many work, pay taxes, and have lived in Los Angeles for years; their legal situations are often more complex than the simplistic label “illegal” suggests.
According to data from USC-Dornsife (SOILA 2024), around 35% of the population in Los Angeles County consists of foreign-born individuals (~3.5 million immigrants). The remaining 65% are U.S.-born, many of whom are the children of immigrants. Roughly 8% of the immigrant population is undocumented.
So how many undocumented immigrants are in Los Angeles itself? Exact numbers are not available, but estimates range from 800,000 to 900,000. Across the state of California, the undocumented population is around 1.8 million.
Are migrants a “voter base” for Democrats? Do they even have the right to vote?
One of Trump’s recurring claims is that Democrats support looser borders to “gain new voters.” However, undocumented immigrants cannot vote in federal or state elections. Even individuals with permanent residency (green cards) cannot vote until they obtain citizenship, a process that often takes a decade or more.
That’s why most analysts consider the claim of direct political exploitation of immigrants to be unfounded. It’s true that many naturalized citizens (especially within the Latino community) may over time lean toward the Democratic Party, but that’s more a matter of long-term demographic trends. According to federal law, non-citizen voting is strictly illegal and punishable, and cases where undocumented individuals appear on voter rolls are extremely rare.
California as a “Different America” – Could this lead to separatism?
California is often described as a progressive, liberal state within the U.S. Due to its immigration history and multicultural makeup, many of its political stances differ strongly from those in more conservative parts of the country, especially when it comes to immigrant rights, environmental policy, healthcare, and more.
During times of major political tension—like now—the idea of “Calexit,” or California separating from the U.S., occasionally resurfaces. Although such initiatives appear whenever there’s a sharp conflict between the federal government and California leadership, the legal and constitutional framework in the U.S. makes secession nearly impossible. Thus, separatism is more a symbol of protest or frustration than a viable political path.
In summary, what’s happening in Los Angeles is not just about immigration raids or sanctuary policies—it’s a manifestation of deep polarization, conflicting visions of America, and unresolved questions about identity, belonging, and fairness in a country shaped by migration.
Still, many Californians view the deployment of the National Guard (and later the Marines) to Los Angeles without the governor’s consent as further evidence of a “federal assault” on their autonomy. In other words, this deepens the divide between “Trump’s America” and “California’s America.”
Mexican Flags at Protests – Provocation or Cultural Pride?
Numerous Mexican flags were seen at the protests in Los Angeles. Critics from the conservative side depict this as an “anti-American” act, believing that displaying foreign flags undermines the idea that these are American citizens. But many protesters are, in fact, either American citizens of Mexican descent or children and grandchildren of immigrants who have lived in the U.S. their entire lives.
For them, the Mexican flag symbolizes cultural heritage and solidarity with those currently threatened by deportation. In their eyes, it’s not a rejection of American identity, but a call for recognition that many Los Angeles residents have dual roots. Quite a few demonstrators carried both the Mexican and American flags, wanting to show that these two identities don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
What’s Trump’s Plan? Deport Everyone and Create a Labor Shortage?
Trump often speaks about a “mass deportation” of all undocumented immigrants. In recent months, according to reports, federal agencies have significantly ramped up arrests at workplaces, in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations, and even in front of schools and daycare centers. The goal—at least rhetorically—is to carry out “the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.”
However, critics warn of the serious consequences such a move could have on the economy. In many sectors—agriculture, construction, hospitality—undocumented workers make up a large portion of the labor force. Removing them abruptly could lead to labor shortages, slow down construction projects (in a state already facing a housing crisis), increase food prices, and disrupt the supply chain. Many migrants perform jobs that other workers are unwilling to take, especially at lower wages.
Supporters of Trump’s plan argue it would open up opportunities for domestic workers and lead to wage growth. But past experience in some U.S. states suggests that when undocumented workers are deported or intimidated, employers struggle to find replacements. This often leads to reduced production and higher product prices, which ultimately affects local populations as well.
What Do People in Los Angeles Think? Is Safety Really at Risk?
Los Angeles is known for its large Latino population, but also for immigrants from around the world. Many Angelenos, including native-born Americans, believe migrants contribute to the city’s economy and make it diverse and dynamic. They also feel that aggressive raids and mass arrests do more harm than good, creating an atmosphere of fear and distrust—especially since some of those detained have no criminal record at all.
Trump, on the other hand, claims that undocumented immigrants threaten public safety and increase crime. However, the statistics don’t support him: numerous studies show that the crime rate among immigrants (including undocumented ones) is lower or at least not higher than among the general population. Local authorities in Los Angeles also stress that it’s important for immigrants to feel safe enough to cooperate with police as witnesses or victims of crime. Otherwise, if they fear deportation every time they contact police, crime could become easier to hide.
Conclusion
The situation in Los Angeles in 2025 reflects deep divisions in American society. On one side is Donald Trump’s federal administration, which is increasing immigration raids and sending in the National Guard and Marines to “restore order,” accusing California of “rebellion” and “disregard for federal law.” On the other side are local authorities and a large part of the population of Los Angeles, who see migrants as their neighbors, friends, or essential workers.
Of course, the issue isn’t black-and-white. Clearly, Trump has his supporters in L.A. who would readily agree to mass deportations. But if we look at the broader “spirit” of L.A., it’s not Trumpian—which, of course, Trump himself knows.
While Trump warns of the supposed threat of “criminal illegals,” real-world cases show that immigration raids often result in the arrest of peaceful workers or parents taking their kids to school. Some support Trump’s tough approach, fearing uncontrolled immigration, while others argue that these are people who have long been part of the community.
Will this lead California down the path of separatism? Very unlikely. But the escalation of conflict and rhetoric around the “illegal occupation” of Los Angeles has reignited the long-running debate over California’s autonomy. The display of Mexican flags at protests has further exposed the cultural and identity gap between two visions of America—one that shuts its doors to migrants, and one that embraces them as part of its society.
In the end, the question of “what exactly is happening in Los Angeles” boils down to a deeper conflict: will the U.S. continue a policy of mass deportations and militarized streets, or will it find a compromise path that balances security concerns with the reality that America was built on immigration (and before that, on the brutal displacement of Indigenous peoples)? For now—despite the noise and protests—there is no answer. What’s clear is that Los Angeles, as one of the world’s most diverse cities, has positioned itself as a symbol of resistance to the mass expulsion of people who are often already woven into the fabric of everyday life.
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