National Guard Deployment in LA
National Guard troops have begun arriving in Los Angeles on orders from President Donald Trump to stamp out protests that have broken out in recent days against federal immigration authorities seeking to carry out deportations in the region.
The members of California’s National Guard were seen staging early Sunday at the federal complex in downtown Los Angeles that includes the Metropolitan Detention Center, where confrontations occurred the last two days.
Protests and Confrontations
Los Angeles County Sheriffs stand during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries an injured protester to cover during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A man, center, stands with others after law enforcement helped him out of a car during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Law enforcement help a person out of a car as a fire burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Demonstrators move an object as a makeshift shelter during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A demonstrator waves an U.S. and Mexican flag during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Spectators watch during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A flash bang canister lies in the street Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Compton, Calif., following an immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)
A man views a vandalized donut shop Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Compton, Calif., following an immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)
Trump says he is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles — over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Presidential Memorandum
“These radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why??? Again, thank you to the National Guard for a job well done!” Trump posted late Saturday night.
The Presidential Memorandum posted Saturday on the White House website ordered the deployment of the National Guard in light of “numerous incidents of violence and disorder [which] … threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws.”
Reaction from Local Authorities
Newsom blasted the move in a fundraising email sent out Sunday morning.
“Last night, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, using the excuse of protests against his immigration raids. Let me be totally clear about what is happening here. We have been working closely with law enforcement. There is no unmet need. The president is attempting to inflame passions and provoke a response,” Newsom wrote.
Confrontations broke out on Saturday near a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, where federal agents were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office nearby. Agents unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls, and protesters hurled rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. Smoke wafted from small piles of burning refuse in the streets.
Tensions and Protests
Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, including in LA’s fashion district and at a Home Depot, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement.
The White House announced that Trump would deploy the Guard to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass said she spoke to high-level officials in the Trump administration, including “border czar” Tom Holman, before the Guard was deployed, and “expressed to them that things were not out of control in the city of Los Angeles. Paramount has some issues, but I doubt very seriously that there’s a need for the National Guard there either.”
Bass said she told Holman, “If you want there to be chaos, then have troops on the ground when there is absolutely no need for that to happen.”
Aggressive Approach
In a signal of the administration’s aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to deploy the U.S. military.
“If violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” Hegseth said on X.
Trump’s order came after clashes in Paramount and neighboring Compton, where a car was set on fire. Protests continued into the evening in Paramount, with several hundred demonstrators gathered near a doughnut shop, and authorities holding up barbed wire to keep the crowd back.
Crowds also gathered again outside federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, including a detention center, where local police declared an unlawful assembly and began to arrest people.
Conclusion
The deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles is a significant development in the ongoing protests against federal immigration authorities. The move has been met with criticism from local authorities, who argue that it is an attempt to inflame passions and provoke a response. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the deployment of the National Guard will impact the protests and the city of Los Angeles.
FAQs
Q: Why has the National Guard been deployed to Los Angeles?
A: The National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles in response to protests against federal immigration authorities.
Q: How many National Guard troops have been deployed?
A: 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Los Angeles.
Q: What is the reaction from local authorities?
A: Local authorities, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, have criticized the deployment of the National Guard, arguing that it is an attempt to inflame passions and provoke a response.
Q: What is the current situation in Los Angeles?
A: The situation in Los Angeles is ongoing, with protests continuing and the National Guard deployed to the city.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the deployment of the National Guard?
A: The expected outcome of the deployment of the National Guard is unclear, but it is likely to impact the protests and the city of Los Angeles.
