Trump Orders 2,000 National Guard Troops to Los Angeles After Immigration Protests Enter Second Day
Trump President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area in response to escalating protests over recent immigration enforcement actions, according to a White House statement issued Saturday night.
Trump The protests erupted Friday following widespread immigration raids carried out by federal agents across multiple locations in the city. Tensions have remained high for two consecutive days, as demonstrators and immigration authorities clashed over the arrests, which were part of the Trump administration’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, law enforcement officers in riot gear used tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse large crowds gathered in downtown Los Angeles and the city of Paramount. Authorities confirmed that multiple arrests were made during the confrontations.
“These operations are necessary to stop the flow of illegal criminal elements into our country,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in the statement. She added, “In light of this violence, California’s Democrat leaders have shown a complete failure to uphold public safety.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the move, calling it “deliberately provocative” and warning that it would only inflame an already volatile situation.
“This is the wrong use of our military resources and will only deepen the mistrust between communities and law enforcement,” Newsom said in a statement.
Trump Administration Labels Protesters ‘Lawless Rioters’ as Some Demonstrations Turn Violent
Trump administration officials referred to demonstrators as “lawless rioters,” despite the Los Angeles Police Department stating that protests within the city on Saturday were peaceful and concluded without major incidents.
In contrast, other parts of Los Angeles County saw heightened tensions. According to a Saturday night advisory from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, protesters in the city of Paramount became “increasingly agitated,” throwing objects and displaying aggressive behavior toward federal agents and sheriff’s deputies. In response, officials requested additional resources across the county and deployed more deputies to manage the unrest.
Nearby in Compton, a vehicle was set ablaze as protesters began to gather, according to video footage from CNN affiliate KABC.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the federal response, claiming President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops was necessary to curb what she described as “the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” She alleged that “violent mobs attacked ICE officers and federal law enforcement agents.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added that if the unrest escalates further, active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton could also be mobilized.
Backlash Over National Guard Deployment
The decision to deploy the National Guard has sparked criticism, even within law enforcement ranks. A senior law enforcement official involved in the response said the move appears excessive and could further inflame tensions, possibly encouraging more confrontations rather than calming the situation.
Law enforcement sources reported that dozens of demonstrators who appeared poised for violence were being closely monitored as of Saturday evening, with officers working to keep the situation under control.
Videos Show Tense Scenes as Immigration Protests Intensify in Los Angeles
Footage from Friday’s protests in Los Angeles reveals a tense and chaotic atmosphere as law enforcement officers in full riot gear—armed with batons, shields, and smoke grenades—faced off against demonstrators. Protesters could be heard chanting slogans such as “Free them all,” while holding signs demanding “Full Rights for All Immigrants” and calling to “Stop the Deportations.” One video shows multiple officers forcibly restraining a protester on the ground.
Federal Authorities Launch Investigations
In a social media post Saturday, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that the agency is investigating incidents where demonstrators allegedly interfered with federal immigration enforcement operations.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on the unrest, accusing protesters of acting against U.S. immigration policy.
Mayor Bass Calls for Calm and Accountability
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that many residents across the county are feeling anxious in the wake of intensified federal immigration actions. She expressed deep concern over reports of violent clashes and reiterated the city’s commitment to public safety.
Sheriff’s Department, ICE, and LAPD Respond to Rising Tensions Amid Protests
However, the protests sparked friction between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) over how the situation was handled.
In a statement, ICE claimed their agents were “vastly outnumbered” as over 1,000 protesters “surrounded and attacked a federal building.” The agency criticized the LAPD’s response time, alleging it took the department two hours to arrive.
The LAPD pushed back against that assertion, saying it deployed officers “as swiftly as conditions safely allowed,” and had mobilized personnel in real time to address the rapidly evolving situation.
Mayor Bass Slams Immigration Raids as ‘Mass Chaos,’ Says Community Left in Fear
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described recent federal immigration raids as “mass chaos,” expressing alarm over the sudden and unannounced nature of the arrests. Speaking to CNN affiliate KABC, Bass said she received no prior notice about the operations and warned that they had created widespread fear in the city.
According to the Associated Press, at least 44 individuals were taken into custody by federal immigration agents. A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers executed search warrants at three separate locations in the Los Angeles area.
The raids occurred as multiple sources told CNN that the Trump administration is also preparing to initiate a “large-scale” withdrawal of federal funding from California, further escalating tensions between state and federal authorities.
One of Friday’s high-profile immigration raids took place in Los Angeles’ Fashion District, where federal agents executed a search warrant at a business suspected of employing workers with falsified documents. A judge had approved the warrant based on the alleged use of fraudulent paperwork.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass sharply criticized the raid, calling it a departure from past federal immigration enforcement practices. “This was unlike anything we’ve seen before,” she told KABC. This was just mass chaos.”
In a statement issued Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the federal actions and urged local leaders to push back. “Elected officials must uphold their commitment to all Angelenos—immigrants and non-immigrants alike—by taking all steps necessary to bring this oppressive and vile paramilitary operation to a halt and keep our city safe and whole,” the statement read.
Union Leader Arrested During Raid
Huerta Condemns Immigration Raids After Arrest, Calls for Collective Action Against ‘Injustice’
Following his arrest and treatment for minor injuries, union leader David Huerta issued a forceful statement denouncing the widespread immigration raids that swept across Los Angeles on Friday.
This isn’t justice; it’s a deep injustice. And we have a moral obligation to stand on the right side of justice.”
Protesters Rally Downtown as Trust in Authorities Deteriorates
Demonstrations against the immigration raids intensified Friday afternoon, as protesters began gathering outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles around 4 p.m., according to CNN affiliate KABC. The crowd swelled as the evening progressed, with hundreds of activists eventually marching toward a federal detention facility on Temple Street.
Community leaders and civil rights advocates say the federal operation is “eroding trust” between immigrant communities and law enforcement, with growing fears that the aggressive tactics will deter residents from reporting crimes or seeking help from authorities.
Families Seek Answers at Detention Center as Tensions Mount Over Immigration Raids
Relatives and friends of individuals detained by immigration authorities gathered outside a Los Angeles detention center on Friday, desperate for information about their loved ones, according to CNN affiliate KABC.
Among them was a young woman who tearfully told reporters she rushed to the facility after learning her father had been taken by federal agents. “I just want to know where he is and if he’s okay,” she said.
As protests escalated into the evening, the Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly around 7 p.m., warning that anyone who remained in the area risked arrest.
Aerial footage from KABC captured officers deploying smoke bombs to clear the streets, allowing SUVs and military-style vehicles to move through the area.
Officials Condemn Federal Raids, Emphasize Community Trust Amid Immigration Crackdown
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell reaffirmed the department’s commitment to serving all residents, regardless of immigration status, as tensions continued to rise following federal immigration raids.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized the federal actions in a statement released Saturday, denouncing the raids as both “reckless” and “cruel.”
“These continued chaotic sweeps across California—carried out to meet arbitrary arrest quotas—are not only dangerous, they are heartless,” Newsom said.