Trump Deploys National Guard Amid LA Immigration Protests \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump ordered 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to escalating immigration protests. Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the move, calling it inflammatory. Violent clashes between demonstrators and federal agents have continued for two days, leading to mass arrests.
Quick Looks
- Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops to California.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom condemns federal takeover as “escalation.”
- Tear gas used during ongoing anti-ICE protests in Paramount.
- 118 immigrants arrested in ICE operations since Friday.
- Protesters clash with Border Patrol; some scrawl anti-ICE graffiti.
- ICE raids target locations tied to document fraud allegations.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem threatens legal action for interference.
- Union leader David Huerta arrested at protest site.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demands Huerta’s release.
- Trump vows federal crackdown if state leaders “can’t do their jobs.”
Deep Look
Tensions reached a boiling point in Southern California this weekend after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, despite strong opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom. The move comes amid intensifying confrontations between federal immigration authorities and demonstrators, which have dominated the streets of Paramount and surrounding neighborhoods for two straight days.
In a Saturday statement, the White House announced the troop deployment was aimed at “addressing the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester” in California, specifically referencing recent unrest tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. These comments accompanied growing criticism of California’s leadership from federal officials.
Governor Newsom responded swiftly, labeling the move “purposefully inflammatory” in a post on X (formerly Twitter), and warning that it would only serve to escalate tensions in communities already on edge. “This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom said. He insisted that California’s law enforcement had adequate resources and saw “no unmet need” for federal intervention.
However, President Trump pushed back on Truth Social, stating that the “Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved,” if local leaders like Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass “can’t do their jobs.”
The decision to deploy troops followed violent clashes in the city of Paramount, where Border Patrol agents in riot gear used tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters. Demonstrators gathered after ICE conducted multiple enforcement actions in the Los Angeles area, including outside a fashion district clothing warehouse. Authorities stated that a judge had found probable cause to believe some employers were using fraudulent documents for their workers.
As agents tried to transport detainees, crowds surrounded federal vehicles, kicking at them and yelling. Fires broke out in the street, and anti-ICE graffiti was scrawled on buildings. Demonstrators carried signs reading, “No Human Being is Illegal,” while others chanted, “Set them free, let them stay!” outside a federal detention center where many of the arrested immigrants were being held.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that 118 individuals were arrested during the ICE operations, including several people with alleged criminal records or links to organized crime. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted a blunt warning on social media, targeting what she called “LA rioters,” and made clear that interference with immigration enforcement would be met with criminal charges.
“You will not stop us or slow us down,” Noem wrote. “ICE will enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Among those arrested during the protests was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a major labor advocate for immigrant rights. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center and is scheduled for a court appearance Monday. The Justice Department confirmed his arrest, though it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Huerta’s arrest, calling it “a disturbing pattern of arresting and detaining American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.” His call for Huerta’s immediate release underscores growing national concern over the federal response to protests.
The violence and political fallout have once again brought Los Angeles to the forefront of America’s polarizing immigration debate. Mayor Karen Bass, echoing Newsom’s concerns, accused ICE and the Trump administration of using law enforcement as a tool to “sow terror” in immigrant-heavy communities. More than 80% of Paramount’s population identifies as Latino, and many residents fear the federal escalation will increase targeting of vulnerable populations.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons fired back in a sharply worded statement, accusing Bass of siding “with chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement.” Lyons vowed that ICE would continue its operations and arrest “criminal illegal aliens,” regardless of political resistance.
The rapid deployment of the National Guard and the mounting rhetoric from all sides mark a significant escalation in what began as a localized immigration enforcement operation. It also highlights the increasingly partisan divide over immigration policy, state versus federal authority, and the criminalization of protest in the United States.
As California braces for more demonstrations, questions now swirl around the long-term implications of federal military involvement in a civilian protest context — especially in a state known for its resistance to Trump-era immigration policies. With the 2024 presidential campaign already underway, the events in Los Angeles could serve as a political flashpoint that shapes national debate in the months to come.
Trump Deploys National
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