Los Angeles Reels as National Guard Deployed Amidst Immigration Protests

Mayor Bass Accuses Trump Administration of Deliberately Inflaming Tensions

Los Angeles is grappling with escalating unrest as federal immigration enforcement actions spark widespread demonstrations and a heavy-handed response from Washington. The deployment of National Guard troops has further heightened anxieties, prompting accusations of deliberate provocation from city officials.

City Declares “Chaos”

On Sunday, armed National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles following orders from the Trump administration, a move swiftly condemned by Mayor Karen Bass. The mayor characterized the situation as “chaos provoked by the Trump Administration,” in a direct appeal to residents.

The unrest follows a series of federal immigration raids, including actions targeting workplaces like Home Depot. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, immigration enforcement actions have increased by 35% in the last quarter, signaling a renewed focus on border security and interior enforcement. DHS Enforcement Statistics (June 7, 2025)

When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you cause fear and panic. And deployment of federalized troops on the heels of raids is a chaotic escalation.

—Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

Urging Peaceful Protest, Warning of Escalation

In a late-night message to residents, Bass urged protesters to remain peaceful, cautioning against actions that could be exploited by the administration. She emphasized the right to peaceful assembly while condemning any form of violence. The mayor’s statement came after a third day of demonstrations across the city.

Bass also shared a video clip of her address, available at youtube.com/watch?v=2wnKo0mUbpo. In the video, she expressed deep concern for the well-being of Los Angeles residents, many of whom fear the consequences of increased immigration enforcement.

Our city has been through a lot since the beginning of the year, and now, thinking that there is a large percentage of our city that is terrified, that is not going to know if they go to sleep tonight and they go to work or they go to school, will that be the last day they do that, will that be the last day they see their family? We can’t have this in our city.

—Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

The mayor reiterated Los Angeles’s identity as a welcoming city for immigrants, emphasizing that the city embraces residents regardless of their origin or arrival date. She concluded her statement with a defiant message, vowing to overcome the perceived chaos orchestrated by the administration.