National Guard Deployed Amidst Los Angeles Protest Clashes

Tensions escalate as demonstrations against immigration policies intensify.

Clashes erupted in Los Angeles between National Guard soldiers and protestors demonstrating against immigration measures enacted by President Donald Trump.The deployment follows increased tensions over federal actions in the city.

Guard Confronts Protesters

A group of National Guard members, alongside Department of Homeland Security officers, confronted demonstrators gathered in front of a federal building in downtown Los Angeles. The confrontations spilled onto the surrounding streets.

Protesters chanted “ICE out of Los Angeles,” referencing the U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which had initiated operations in Los Angeles on Friday.

Federal Response

U.S. Northern Command confirmed the deployment of 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles, with some already present at protest sites.

President Trump characterized the demonstrations as “riots” and threatened forceful action against protesters who assault law enforcement. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he stated, “They spit, we hit.” However, Trump did not cite specific instances of such actions.

“If we see a danger to our country and our citizens, we will react very, very strictly to the law and order,” Trump said.

National Guard troops were also observed in Paramount, southeast of Los Angeles, near the location of previous clashes between protesters and police on Saturday.

Political Reactions

California Governor Gavin Newsom accused trump of deploying the National Guard to create a “spectacle.” Newsom urged,“Don’t give Donald Trump what he wants… Express your opinion. Stay peaceful. Stay calm.”

On Saturday, law enforcement clashed with hundreds of protesters in Paramount and approximately one hundred in downtown Los Angeles.Federal officers used gas grenades in an attempt to disperse crowds, according to eyewitness accounts.

Los Angeles police arrested 27 individuals on Saturday for failing to disperse from the downtown protest, according to police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported the arrest of three individuals on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, with three officers sustaining minor injuries.

Immigration policy Opposition

The protests reflect opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration control policies, especially in Los Angeles, where a meaningful portion of the population is of Latin American descent, according to census data. According to the Pew Research center, as of 2023, Hispanics make up nearly half (48%) of Los Angeles County’s population (Pew Research center).

Defense Minister Pete Haget warned that the Pentagon is prepared to mobilize active-duty soldiers “if the violence continues” in Los Angeles, noting that Marines at Camp Pendleton are at “in increased readiness.”

Nanette Barragán, a Democratic legislator representing California electoral districts, criticized the president’s decision to deploy the national Guard, arguing that local law enforcement possesses sufficient resources to manage the situation.

“We do not need help. It is indeed the one who escalates the situation, causing tension. It will only make things worse in a situation where people are already angry about the implementation of immigration laws,” Barragán told CNN.

International Criticism

Mexico President Claudia Shainbaum also voiced criticism of the U.S. government’s approach to migrants and the deployment of the National Guard.

“We do not agree with this way of solving the immigration problem,” said Shainbaum,who aims to maintain a positive relationship with Trump. “The problem will not be resolved with raids or violence. The solution is to sit down and work on a complete reform,” she added.