BBC Breakfast viewers were caught off guard on Sunday morning when the usual flow of the show was suddenly brought to a halt by presenter Roger Johnson. The reason? Shocking scenes are unfolding live from Los Angeles, where violent protests had broken out overnight in response to a fresh wave of immigration raids.
Roger cut into the broadcast and quickly handed over to BBC correspondent Regan Morris, who was on the ground in LA, reporting from the heart of the unrest. The dramatic switch in tone came as large crowds had taken to the streets in Paramount, a neighborhood gripped by fear and tension after aggressive new deportation measures had been rolled out under Donald Trump’s administration, reported the Express.
With emotions running high, Regan described the mood in the city as “terrifying” and said the protests erupted after it was revealed that around 2,000 guardsmen had been deployed to enforce the immigration crackdown. She said locals were watching from behind closed curtains, scared of what might come next. Some were too frightened to leave their homes at all, fearing that they or their loved ones could be targeted next.
At one point during the live coverage, the BBC aired a clip showing a crowd of protesters physically blocking a moving bus that was said to be transporting detained immigrants. The tension in the footage was palpable, with people standing defiantly in the road, desperate to stop what they saw as unjust action being carried out in their community.
Regan added that many residents felt under siege, with families unsure who might be taken next. She told viewers that people had been calling local radio stations in tears, describing scenes of neighbours being taken away without warning.
The decision to break into the BBC Breakfast broadcast underscored just how serious the situation had become. Normally, a programme known for gentle headlines and lifestyle segments, the shift to hard-hitting live news from across the Atlantic was stark, and many viewers took to social media to express their concern.
One viewer wrote, “Terrifying scenes from LA, can’t believe what I’m seeing on BBC Breakfast this morning.” Another said, “Shocking to see buses of people being taken away like that, right there on the telly. That poor reporter looked genuinely shaken.”
Roger Johnson remained composed but visibly serious as he explained why the programme had changed course. He told viewers it was important to keep them informed as the story developed rapidly.
With the unrest entering its second day, the situation in LA showed no signs of calming down. The sheer scale of the response, the military-style enforcement, and the distress in the community sparked questions that go far beyond the streets of California.
As things unfolded live on air, the BBC’s coverage gave UK audiences a rare and raw glimpse of the fear and chaos surrounding immigration policy in the US — and left many watching from their sofas feeling just a little more uneasy about what lies ahead.
