Five years after the national protests following the death of George Floyd, the Trump administration is wielding the lessons of that summer of unrest to justify a sweeping crackdown on anti-immigration raids and protests now roiling major cities.
While Democratic city officials in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco push back against federal intervention, the Justice Department is rapidly filing federal charges and escalating prosecutions with support from the National Guard and Marines.
“This is a very, very different response [from 2020], in my opinion — probably because Trump doesn’t want a repeat of what happened last time,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor based in Los Angeles who has seen the protests first-hand.
“He’s drawn a firmer line and taken a much harsher stance on immigration. You didn’t have governors litigating against the president back then like you do now,” Rahmani said, referring to the lawsuit by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) contesting Trump’s federalization of the National Guard.
Federal coordination ramps up
In an internal directive sent Thursday to all 94 U.S. attorneys, the DOJ ordered prosecutors to prioritize charges against individuals who destroy property or assault law enforcement during immigration-related protests — and to publicize every case to deter further unrest, according to a DOJ email seen by multiple outlets.
The DOJ has filed charges against at least 14 demonstrators in Los Angeles alone, including a man accused of delivering tactical or “Bionic Shield” face masks to protesters. Prosecutors say Alejandro Theodoro Orellana conspired to commit civil disorder by supplying protective gear to individuals who later clashed with law enforcement.
ARRESTED: Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was arrested this morning by @FBILosAngeles on an allegation of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders (18 USC 371) for distributing face shields to suspected rioters on Tuesday. We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in… pic.twitter.com/Ase8kxupfp
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) June 12, 2025
“We have made it a huge priority to try to identify, locate, and arrest those who are involved in organizing, supporting, funding, or facilitating these riots,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in an interview with Fox News after Orellana’s arrest. “They’re well-orchestrated, coordinated, and well-funded.”
Rahmani said cases against protesters passing out supplies are rare but legally possible. “Providing equipment that’s used to impede federal officers could make someone a coconspirator,” he said. “But there’s not a lot of precedent. We’ll see if it sticks.”
“Obviously, when it goes to a judge, I’m sure his counsel [file a motion to dismiss] arguing that providing protective gear isn’t enough to charge someone with a conspiracy,” said Rahmani. “It will be interesting to see what a judge rules on that.”
How Trump is adjusting from 2020 lessons
The administration’s posture follows a week of largely peaceful but high-arrest protests across the country, from more benign marches through the streets to the early days of the Los Angeles protest that saw agitators waving Mexican flags atop cars, rocks thrown at police vehicles, and self-driving cars set ablaze.
At least 350 people have been arrested in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Austin, and Chicago, according to the New York Times, with more protests planned under the “No Kings” banner this weekend.
The scale and speed of the federal response have revived comparisons to Trump’s 2020 handling of unrest, when over 300 federal cases were brought against demonstrators in cities such as Portland and Minneapolis, according to DOJ records.
In June 10 Oval Office remarks, President Donald Trump drew a direct contrast between past and present:
“That city was burning down seven days, and I said to myself, ‘If that stuff happens again, we’ve got to make faster decisions.’” He cited Minneapolis in 2020, faulting governors who delayed deploying the National Guard.
.@POTUS: “I called in the military in Minneapolis, but it was seven days. I waited for this guy — the same guy that ran for vice president, who’s a very dumb person. He’s a Low IQ Individual like many Democrats are.”
pic.twitter.com/zzDmRpKaEc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2025
Trump repeated his criticism of Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), the former running mate of former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, calling him a “low-IQ individual.”
According to estimates compiled by insurance groups, the unrest in 2020 caused over $2 billion in insured property damage nationwide, making it the costliest civil disturbance in United States history.
“This time, Trump doesn’t want to let it get to that point,” said Chris Walsh, a California-based defense attorney. “There’s a clear intent to send a national message.”
State pushback and legal collision
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) called on residents to “resist in this moment” and accused Trump of abusing federal power. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling emphasized that local law enforcement “do not respond to immigration enforcement.”
“Whatever particular vulnerable group is targeted today, another group will be next,” Johnson warned, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 17 attorneys general in condemning Trump’s use of military forces in Los Angeles without state consent.
“This is unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic,” Raoul’s office wrote.
The federal-state contrast
Rahmani said the friction between state and federal authorities is stark compared to 2020. “Back then, there was significantly more state and federal cohesion,” he said.
“Now you have governors litigating against Trump, and the Ninth Circuit is going to have to weigh in,” Rahmani said, referring to the appeals court’s decision Thursday night to stall a lower court ruling that held Trump illegally federalized the National Guard.
The distinction is also procedural. “In the federal system, there are very few misdemeanors,” Rahmani said. “You’re looking at longer prison terms, and it’s a whole different ballgame.”
Walsh echoed that concern. “Federal intervention can chill free expression,” he said. “Even minor involvement can suddenly mean years in prison if the DOJ is trying to make an example.”
Public opinion shifts toward law and order
While public opinion on Trump’s broader protest response remains divided, recent polling and focus group data suggest his decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles — over state objections — resonates with many swing voters.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey found 48% of Americans supported using the military when protests turn violent, while an Engagious/Sago focus group of North Carolina Biden-to-Trump voters showed majority support for Trump’s LA actions, despite some respondents expressing civil liberties concerns.
Rahmani said he believes federal presence is likely to diminish unrest overall. “LA has a perception of lawlessness — retail theft, cars on fire, fireworks,” he said. “I don’t expect the Guard to do much, but their presence is a deterrent. More law enforcement means fewer opportunities for chaos.”
But the protests are far from over. Dozens of organizers in the “No Kings” movement have scheduled additional demonstrations for Saturday in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is attempting to host a military parade to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Saturday evening, which is also Trump’s birthday.
TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE THREATENED BY THUNDERSTORMS
And with more federal enforcement high alert across the nation, the likelihood of stiffer charges awaits those who cross the line from free expression to violence, theft, and civil disorder.
“Your bosses are telling you to prosecute these cases,” Rahmani said of the DOJ memo to U.S. attorneys. “So, guess what? You’re going to prosecute them.”