Senator Josh Hawley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism, said he is launching an investigation into the Los Angeles riots, focused on who is funding individuals or groups behind any violent disorder.
The riots in Los Angeles coincided with lawful demonstrations against federal immigration raids in the city.
“Who is funding the LA riots? This violence isn’t spontaneous,” Hawley, a Missouri Republican, posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The Trump administration is seeking to deliver on its campaign promise of mass deportation of illegal immigrants, particularly those who have committed serious and violent crimes, and sees California as a hotspot.
Protesters said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids were violent and spread fear among peaceful immigrant communities who contribute positively to American society.
As protesters took to the streets to voice their opposition to the ICE operations, most of them nonviolently, some set fire to cars and hurled objects at the authorities in violent clashes. At night, several businesses were looted.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Hawley Eyes Immigrant Activist Group
Hawley shared a letter he had written to Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an activist group that had organized some of the protests in Los Angeles. He told Salas to preserve a number of records.
“While peaceful protest is a cornerstone of American democracy, these demonstrations have escalated into lawless mob actions,” Hawley wrote in his letter.
“They have obstructed federal law enforcement, endangered public safety, and disrupted the rule of law. This lawlessness is unacceptable. It must end.”
Hawley alleged there were credible reports to show the activist group “has provided logistical support and financial resources to individuals engaged in these disruptive actions,” though he did not provide evidence of such in his letter.
He added: “Let me be clear: bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech. It is aiding and abetting criminal conduct.”
Newsweek reached out to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and Hawley’s office via email for comment.
”Families Belong Together!’
In previous statements posted on Facebook, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights said that it would continue to fight against deportations.
“To our immigrant community: we see you, we hear you, and we will NOT stop fighting for you. We say NO deportations. NO to mass detentions. Families belong together!” the group said in a June 7 post after urging people to rally against ICE raids in Los Angeles.
In another post on June 10, the group wrote, translated from Spanish: “We understand the fear and concerns our community is facing right now. We want to remind our community that CHIRLA is here to help.
“We are ready to defend our community against threats of mass deportation and we remain committed to protecting and defending our immigrant community.”
Trump LA Troop Deployment
President Donald Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to quell the unrest in Los Angeles. The Republican stated that such action was necessary to restore law and order due to the failures of the Democratic leadership there.
“If our troops didn’t go into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now, just like so much of their housing burned to the ground,” Trump posted to Truth Social on June 11, referring to the recent devastating wildfires.
“The great people of Los Angeles are very lucky that I made the decision to go in and help!!!”
But California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, accused Trump of fanning the flames and opposed the deployments. They said local and state authorities could handle the situation.
“Thanks to our law enforcement officers and the majority of Angelenos who protested peacefully, the situation was winding down, and was concentrated in just a few square blocks downtown,” Newsom said in a video statement posted to social media.
“But that? That’s not what Donald Trump wanted. He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety.”
Newsom added: “Donald Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities. They’re traumatizing our communities, and that seems to be the entire point.”
Update 6/11/25, 12:26 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
