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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the streets of Los Angeles, citing the need to quell what he called “lawlessness” amid growing unrest following federal immigration enforcement raids.
The decision, announced Saturday, has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the move “purposefully inflammatory.”
The federal deployment comes after two days of tense confrontations in Los Angeles, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations resulted in the arrests of over 100 undocumented migrants, including five individuals alleged to have gang affiliations. The city—home to one of the nation’s largest Latino populations—erupted in protest after reports surfaced that federal agents used flash-bang grenades and tear gas against demonstrators.
Video footage from the Compton neighborhood showed a vehicle in flames at a major intersection, while other clips captured a protester in a motorcycle helmet throwing rocks at passing federal vehicles. In some areas, protesters clashed with local law enforcement, launching fireworks and constructing barricades from cement blocks and shopping carts.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the deployment, stating, “President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester under California’s feckless Democratic leadership. The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when directed at law enforcement.”
Governor Newsom, however, rejected the intervention, writing on social media: “This move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions. The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle. Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, confirmed the National Guard deployment would occur within 24 hours. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were on high alert and could be mobilized if the situation deteriorates further.
Legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of the move. Law professor Jessica Levinson noted that President Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to federalize the National Guard, rather than the Insurrection Act, which is typically used in cases of domestic unrest. “The National Guard will likely serve in a support role,” Levinson said, highlighting the legal constraints on military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Tensions escalated further after ICE raids targeted multiple workplaces across Los Angeles on Friday. Demonstrators gathered outside what was believed to be a federal staging area in the suburb of Paramount, leading to standoffs with law enforcement.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the community’s anxiety. “Many residents are feeling fear in the wake of these raids,” she said. “Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reported several arrests linked to the protests. “You bring chaos, and we’ll bring handcuffs,” he said. “Law and order will prevail.”
On Saturday, protests intensified, with some demonstrators reportedly burning American flags and waving Mexican ones, according to the Los Angeles Times. Federal officials have described the unrest as an “insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller issued a particularly forceful condemnation.
