The LA Metro board called on the mega transit agency to clarify how to proceed during future street protests, including if or when to shut down nearby rail stations and to provide additional Transit Ambassadors to help with wayfinding.

The motion, passed on Thursday, June 26, came after anti-immigration raid protests and other demonstrations resulted in temporary changes to bus service and closures of some stations near the disturbances in downtown Los Angeles to protect employees and prevent train collisions.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn and chair of the Metro board criticized the closing of some downtown Los Angeles train stations on Saturday evening, June 14, when protesters taking part in the “No Kings” marches opposed to aggressive immigration raids and tactics were ordered to disperse by law enforcement.

Some had taken the system’s A and B lines to the downtown marches, only to be shut out of a return home because Metro had closed several downtown stations.

“They were ordered to disperse, but then they found out our system had closed those stations,” said Hahn. “Hundreds of people that were depending on our system to leave safely and get back home found all those stations closed.”

Metro staff reported that in the week prior, when early protests against immigration raids took a violent turn, the agency had to close the Little Tokyo A Line train station when protestors were walking in the tunnels and on the train tracks.

The staff said some lit fires to trash cans at the station, creating a security risk. The agency enacted seven closures during the few days of unrest on June 7, June 8, June 9 and June 11. This blocked riders at these stations from using the A, E and B lines, Metro staffers reported.

Metro staff reported some rail stations were temporarily closed during the past week to help protect passengers and employees. In particular, the Little Tokyo A Line station was closed 8-12 hours each day.

No Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions or arrests were reported on Metro trains or buses nor at train stations. At one time on June 12, several ICE agents were spotted at a rail station but no detentions took place, Metro reported.

Hahn said communications were inadequate and many people who were trying to obey police orders and leave the area did not know what trains were running and what stations were open.

“I think the unintended consequences of shutting down those stations really harmed the people peacefully protesting and wanting to get out of there,” Hahn concluded.

About 27 bus routes in downtown Los Angeles were re-routed but did not suspend service during the protests. The El Monte Bus Depot was closed from June 9 to June 14.

In total, 39 buses were damaged and two stations were impacted by graffiti and broken glass, Metro reported. Damage totaled $113,000.