National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles Amidst Immigration Protest Clash
Federal Intervention Sparks Escalation, Governor Demands Withdrawal
Los Angeles is gripped by escalating tensions as thousands demonstrate against federal immigration policies, prompting an unprecedented deployment of the National Guard by **President Trump**. Protests have turned confrontational, with demonstrators blocking major roadways and clashing with law enforcement.
Protests Intensify, Freeway Blocked
Thousands of protesters took to the streets, responding to the arrival of approximately 300 federal troops. The demonstrations, now in their third day, initially focused on immigration enforcement actions but have broadened into a challenge to federal authority. Protesters blocked a major freeway, and several autonomous vehicles were set ablaze, leading to a forceful response from local police.
Law enforcement utilized tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to disperse crowds gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where individuals recently detained in immigration raids are being held. Some officers patrolled on horseback, while others formed lines behind the deployed National Guard troops.
“Shame” and “go home”
—Protesters, Chants directed at National Guard
Governor Newsom Condemns Federal Action
The deployment of the National Guard without the request of **Governor Gavin Newsom** has ignited a political firestorm. **Newsom** sent a letter to **President Trump** on Sunday, calling the move a “serious breach of state sovereignty” and requesting the immediate withdrawal of the troops. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the last time a state’s National Guard was activated without a governor’s permission was in 1965 during the civil rights movement in Alabama.
The situation mirrors growing national concerns about immigration enforcement. In 2023, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deported 142,000 individuals, a 43% increase from 2021, according to ICE data (ICE FY2023 Removals).
City Officials Criticize Federal Intervention
**Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass** sharply criticized the federal government’s actions, stating, “This is about another agenda, this isn’t about public safety.”
She accused the administration of deliberately provoking chaos. **President Trump**, however, defended the deployment, asserting the need for a strong response to what he described as “violent people” and a failure by state and local officials to address the protests.
Escalating Rhetoric and Potential for Further Action
**President Trump** authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members and suggested the possibility of deploying active-duty Marines if the violence continues. He also warned that California officials obstructing deportations could face charges, referencing the recent arrest of a Wisconsin judge accused of aiding an individual evading immigration authorities. **Senator Bernie Sanders** condemned **Trump’s** actions as a move towards “authoritarianism”.
The current unrest follows two days of protests that spread from downtown Los Angeles to neighboring cities like Paramount and Compton, where demonstrators clashed with Border Patrol agents using tear gas and other crowd control measures. The situation remains volatile, with no immediate resolution in sight.
