As violent protests in Los Angeles entered their third day this weekend, tensions between the U.S. and Mexico intensified after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly praised the demonstrators and criticized the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions.
Sheinbaum, speaking from Mexico City on Sunday, called illegal immigrants from Mexico living in the U.S. “good men and women” who are simply trying to support their families.
“They are not criminals!” she declared, a statement seen by many as sympathetic to the rioters amid ongoing clashes with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles, Gateway Pundit reports.
The unrest erupted Friday following federal ICE raids targeting illegal immigrants.
What began as demonstrations quickly devolved into violence — with fires set, projectiles thrown at officers and property damaged.
In response, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order.
Rather than urging calm, Sheinbaum issued a warning that Mexico would “mobilize and take action” if the U.S. moves forward with proposed taxes on remittances — money sent by illegal immigrants to families in Mexico that accounts for about 4 percent of the country’s GDP.
“If the U.S. government tries to tax the money sent home to families, we will not stay silent,” she said.
Her remarks drew sharp criticism in Washington, with officials and lawmakers alarmed that her rhetoric could incite further unrest on U.S. soil and deepen the diplomatic rift.
Meanwhile, California’s Democratic leadership faced backlash for their limited response.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were accused of inaction despite the escalating violence.
Their vague public statements contrasted with the Trump administration’s decision to take decisive action, highlighting tensions between federal and local authorities.
Tom Homan, former ICE director and President Trump’s border czar, issued a stern warning to officials blocking immigration enforcement.
“It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien,” Homan said. “It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job. You cross that line, and there are consequences.”
Sheinbaum’s speech, delivered shortly after Homan’s warning, was seen as a direct challenge to both U.S. enforcement officials and California politicians resisting federal immigration actions.
Though she stopped short of explicitly endorsing the violence, her tone was interpreted as encouraging resistance to U.S. immigration policies, according to GP.
Despite the unrest, ICE agents have continued their operations, supported by National Guard troops.
President Trump reiterated his commitment to maintaining law and order in Los Angeles until peace is restored.
The unfolding conflict underscores a growing divide over immigration policy between the federal government, state leaders and foreign officials.
As Mexico’s leadership challenges U.S. enforcement efforts and California officials face criticism for their response, the immigration issue is evolving into a complex political and diplomatic conflict.
How this standoff affects immigration enforcement, remittance policies, and bilateral relations remains uncertain. But with the streets still tense and political rhetoric heating up, the debate shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon.
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