U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles following two consecutive days of violent clashes between protesters and federal immigration agents. The move, made over the strong objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom, marks a significant escalation in tensions between state and federal authorities.
Violence erupted again on Saturday in Paramount, a predominantly Latino suburb south of Los Angeles. Protesters clashed with federal agents using tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper balls, while demonstrators retaliated with rocks and broken cinder blocks. Smoke filled the air from burning debris, and confrontations also spread to neighboring Compton, where a car was set on fire.
The protests were triggered by a wave of immigration enforcement sweeps earlier in the week in L.A.’s fashion district and other neighborhoods, leading to over 100 arrests. The situation intensified after the arrest of a well-known union leader, who was accused of obstructing law enforcement during a protest.
In a statement, the White House said Trump’s decision to send in the Guard was to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that if the violence continues, active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton would also be deployed.
Governor Newsom criticized the move, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and likely to “escalate tensions.” He emphasized that local law enforcement has the resources it needs and urged the public not to fuel the federal government’s desire for a “spectacle.” Newsom also pointed out that Trump federalized the troops under Title 10, placing them under federal command and removing the governor’s oversight.
Protests continued through the night in Paramount, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering near local businesses. Homeland Security facilities were reportedly staging points for agents, although local officials, including Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons, denied that raids occurred within the city itself. Still, the presence of federal officers sparked anger, with protesters chanting slogans like “ICE out of Paramount” and holding signs declaring, “No Human Being is Illegal.”
Multiple arrests have been made, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office releasing the names and mugshots of individuals accused of obstructing immigration agents. Demonstrations also erupted outside federal buildings in downtown L.A., where local police declared unlawful assemblies and detained several people.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the immigration crackdown, accusing Democratic leaders in California of abandoning their duty to protect citizens. She claimed the actions of immigration officers were essential to stopping “the invasion of illegal criminals.”
President Trump’s deployment order came just before he attended a UFC match in New Jersey, where he sat ringside with boxing legend Mike Tyson. In a social media post prior to signing the order, Trump threatened that if Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass failed to act, “the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol confirmed that Newsom had ordered additional state officers to assist in maintaining public safety, signaling the state’s intent to handle the crisis independently despite federal intervention.
