Los Angeles, June 10, 2025 – An Australian journalist was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting live on protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8. According to 9 News Australia, their U.S. correspondent, Lauren Tomasi, was covering the unrest when she was hit in the leg.
Tomasi was filming as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) used rubber bullets and horses to control crowds in downtown Los Angeles. “The situation has gotten much worse,” she told viewers, moments before being struck. She screamed but quickly said, “I’m good.” The moment was shared in a video posted by 9 News Australia on X.
Protests began on Friday, June 6, after ICE detained dozens of people across the city, CNN reported. The BBC noted that 118 arrests were made in Los Angeles last week due to the ICE operations, including 44 on Friday alone. Over the weekend, NBC News reported 56 additional arrests, with police stating that 17 people were detained by the California Highway Patrol on the 101 Freeway. Among those arrested, one person allegedly injured an officer with a motorcycle, and another threw a Molotov cocktail at police, per NBC News.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to manage the protests, according to the BBC. This marked the first time since 1965 that the National Guard was deployed without a state governor’s request, the Associated Press reported. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move, writing on Facebook, “Trump is trying to create chaos in L.A. County by sending troops.” He urged residents to stay peaceful.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also opposed the deployment, telling KTLA on Sunday, “It wasn’t necessary.” She said the LAPD could handle the situation despite some vandalism by protesters. The Associated Press explained that Trump used a special rule to take control of California’s National Guard, bypassing Governor Newsom’s authority.
Clashes in the city’s Paramount district, home to many Latino residents, saw tear gas used to break up crowds, the BBC reported. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, about 60 people were arrested on Sunday during protests outside an immigration building, according to local station KGO. The San Francisco Police Department confirmed the arrests on X, noting they found one gun at the scene.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said on Facebook on Friday that his department does not enforce immigration laws or assist with deportations. “We want everyone, including immigrants, to feel safe calling the police,” he wrote.
This report is based on verified updates from the Associated Press, CNN, Reuters, BBC, NBC News, and other reputable news organizations as of June 10, 2025. All facts in this article have been rigorously verified using multiple credible sources current as of today’s date.