In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles amidst growing protests against federal immigration raids in the area. This decision has sparked significant backlash from California’s Democratic leadership, who view it as a provocation in an already tense situation.
Troops were observed early Sunday securing the federal complex in downtown Los Angeles, including areas around the Metropolitan Detention Center, which had become a focal point for unrest over the preceding days.
The recent hours of unrest were triggered by confrontations between protestors and federal agents near a Department of Homeland Security facility situated in Paramount, a city in southern Los Angeles with a substantial Latino demographic.
Demonstrations escalated following mass arrests conducted by federal authorities in various locations, including a shopping district and a Home Depot store.
According to immigration officials, over 100 individuals have been detained in the last week due to the ongoing operations.
Rob Reynolds, Al Jazeera’s senior correspondent in Los Angeles, pointed out that the deployment of National Guard troops was executed in a manner that diverges from standard procedures. Typically, such a presence is requested by a state governor. However, President Trump bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom by utilizing a different legal provision empowering him to nationalize state guard forces during instances of insurrection against the federal government.
Reynolds expressed concern that the very presence of National Guard troops might serve as a provocation, potentially igniting further confrontations, something local leaders aim to prevent.
Governor Newsom has sharply criticized the deployment, labeling it as “inflammatory” and cautioning that it would likely exacerbate tensions. He took to social media to warn, “They want a spectacle. Don’t give them one.”
The governor accused the Trump administration of employing heavy-handed tactics as a means to incite unrest and divert attention from its contentious immigration policies.
In response to the protests, Trump has characterized them as “a form of rebellion,” indicating the growing antagonism between his administration and California, particularly against Governor Newsom, whom Trump has mockingly referred to as “Gavin New Scum” on various social media platforms.
The White House has defended the decision to send National Guard troops, citing a need to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester” in the region.
Alexandra Miller, an immigration justice attorney at VECINA, an organization dedicated to immigrant legal needs, expressed alarm over the raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She indicated that local communities are now gripped by fear regarding how to protect themselves against such aggressive federal actions.
Miller asserted that the raids were purposely designed to instill widespread panic, thereby undermining community resilience and showcasing the administration’s authority.
While the federal government is legally empowered to enforce immigration laws, Miller criticized the current approach as excessively harsh and disproportionate to the actual needs and priorities of the community.
She emphasized the necessity for ICE and federal authorities to adhere to due process and ensure that migrants are afforded their rights to defend themselves against removal.
The last instance of National Guard deployment in Los Angeles dates back to 1992, following the riots that erupted after the notorious police beating of Black motorist Rodney King, an event that was captured on video and sparked national outrage.
Civil rights attorney Robert Patillo described Trump’s method of deploying troops without state consent as “unprecedented” in contemporary history. He noted that normally, federal troops are dispatched at the invitation of a state’s governor. For instance, California’s governor formally requested federal intervention during the LA riots of 1992. However, with Governor Newsom’s lack of consent for the troops’ arrival, legal challenges may arise.
Protests continued to spread, with incidents reported in Compton, where a vehicle was set ablaze, and gatherings in Paramount where protestors rallied near a local doughnut shop as police erected barriers of barbed wire.
As protests extended into the evening hours, crowds returned to federal buildings in central Los Angeles, prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly and initiate arrests.
Adding to the tension, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton are on high alert and prepared for mobilization if civil unrest persists.
Progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has condemned Trump’s order, voicing concerns that the move represents a concerning shift toward authoritarianism and an overreach of presidential power at the expense of Congress.
While several Republican leaders have expressed their support for the National Guard’s involvement, the situation remains fraught with conflict, leaving many communities anxious about the implications of such federal actions.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/8/trump-deployed-national-guard-arrives-in-la-to-crush-immigration-protests
