Trump Deploys National Guard as Immigration Protests Escalate in Los Angeles.

 

Tensions surged in Los Angeles over the weekend as President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in response to growing protests against recent immigration raids conducted by federal agents.

According to a statement from the White House, the move was aimed at curbing what the administration described as "lawlessness" in the wake of immigration enforcement actions that have sparked widespread outrage. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that active-duty military personnel, including Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, were on high alert and could be mobilized if violence persisted.

Demonstrators gathered in various parts of the city for a second consecutive day, with a notable clash taking place in the Paramount neighborhood, where some protesters carried Mexican flags. Another demonstration in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night drew around 60 participants chanting “ICE out of LA!”

In a presidential memorandum, Trump stated that the deployment was necessary to restore order. Tom Homan, who leads Trump’s immigration efforts, confirmed during a Fox News interview that the National Guard would be arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Governor and City Officials Push Back

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal response, calling the decision “purposefully inflammatory.” Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Newsom argued that there was no shortage of local law enforcement, accusing Trump of using the situation to create a political spectacle. “Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully,” he urged.

Newsom also condemned the threat of deploying active-duty military forces, describing it as “deranged behavior.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also denounced the immigration raids, saying they sow fear in immigrant communities and undermine public safety.

“If Newsom and Bass can’t do their jobs,” Trump posted on Truth Social, “then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem — riots and looters — the way it should be solved!!!”

Accusations of “Violent Insurrection”

Senior members of the Trump administration have framed the protests in stark terms. Vice President JD Vance accused demonstrators of insurrection, claiming that they were attacking immigration officials while waving foreign flags. Top White House aide Stephen Miller also described the events as a “violent insurrection.”

Despite these statements, officials have confirmed that the Insurrection Act — a law that allows a president to deploy the military to restore order — has not been invoked. However, according to sources, National Guard units could be mobilized rapidly, with the Pentagon actively working to assemble the 2,000 troops requested.

This would be the largest domestic military deployment since the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which followed the Rodney King verdict and also required National Guard intervention.

Protest Footage and Detentions

Footage from Saturday’s protest in Paramount showed federal agents in riot gear, some wearing gas masks, facing off with demonstrators amid scattered debris. Gas canisters were seen erupting on the street as agents attempted to disperse crowds. Some individuals were detained after reportedly refusing to leave the area despite repeated warnings.

The Los Angeles Police Department acknowledged the detentions on X but did not release further details. There has been no official word on how many people were arrested or what charges they might face.

One protester, Ron Gochez, emphasized the resistance to federal immigration raids, saying, “They cannot come into our neighborhoods and snatch up our workers without a fierce response.”

ICE Raids Spark Outrage

The protests were triggered by a wave of immigration raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday night. Officials reported that 44 people were taken into custody for alleged immigration violations.

The Department of Homeland Security described Friday’s protests as involving roughly 1,000 individuals. However, advocacy groups and local observers disputed the official account, saying legal representation was denied to detainees — a claim that has sparked concern among civil rights organizations.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the immigrant advocacy group CHIRLA, stated that lawyers were unable to access those detained, calling the situation “very worrying.”

ICE has set ambitious goals under Trump’s renewed crackdown, with targets of 3,000 arrests per day as part of a broader effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and remove undocumented immigrants. Critics say these actions have also impacted lawful residents, leading to a number of legal challenges.

Recent raids reportedly took place around areas where street vendors and day laborers gather, including Home Depot parking lots, a garment factory, and a local warehouse.

Local Leaders Condemn Federal Tactics

Mayor Bass issued a strong statement in response to the events, condemning the tactics used in the immigration enforcement operations.

“I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” she said. “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. We will not stand for this.”

As the situation unfolds, Los Angeles finds itself at the center of a growing national debate over immigration, public safety, and the limits of federal authority on U.S. soil.