Protests over immigration result in National Guard deployment by Trump on the second day in Los Angeles
Revamped Report:
Headline: Trump Deploys National Guard to Los Angeles Amidst Immigration Protests
Let's get real, folks. The drama in Los Angeles has heated up, and it ain't pretty. President Trump has signed a memo, ordering 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles to quell the protests sparked by immigration raids. The White House justified this decision, stating the move was necessary to stop the influx of "illegal criminals" into the U.S.
The ruckus began Friday, after federal agents detained dozens of people across various locations, exacerbating tensions in an era of Trump's tough immigration policies that involve waves of raids and deportations nationwide. Police clashed with demonstrators, utilizing tear gas and flash bangs to disperse crowds in downtown LA and the city of Paramount.
California Governor Gavin Newsom deemed the National Guard deployment "purposefully inflammatory" and warned it would only intensify hostilities. He criticized the Trump administration for labeling protesters as "lawless rioters." The Los Angeles Police Department, on the other hand, reported that Saturday's protests within the city "remained peaceful" and ended without incident.
What's more, clashes between federal authorities and protesters in Paramount escalated, with the Sheriff's Department reporting that protesters became "violent" and threw objects at federal agents and deputies. In response, additional resources were called upon countywide, and extra deputies were dispatched. Elsewhere, a vehicle was torched in Compton where protesters gathered, and video footage showed projectiles being hurled at officers armed with body armor and protective shields outside a Los Angeles federal detention center on Friday.
Trump's White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the deployment of troops was aimed at addressing the supposed "lawlessness" that has been allowed to fester, and addressing "violent mobs" who allegedly attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal law enforcement agents. Trump invoked his authority under Title 10, allowing the president to call in the National Guard as necessary to repel invasion, quell rebellion, or execute laws. Furthermore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will be activated if the unrest continues.
Many in law enforcement view the National Guard deployment as an overreaction that risks stirring up further agitation, one senior law enforcement source involved in handling the Los Angeles protests said. Additionally, dozens of potentially dangerous demonstrators were observed by law enforcement around Los Angeles on Saturday evening. Videos from Friday show law enforcement officers armed with batons and shields, wielding smoke bombs, and pinning protestors to the ground. Protesters chanted "Free them all" and held signs reading "Full Rights for All Immigrants" and "Stop the Deportations."
The white-hot conflict between ICE and the Los Angeles Police Department escalated in response to the protests. ICE argued that their officers were vastly outnumbered by more than a thousand rioters who surrounded and attacked a federal building, while the LAPD insisted they swiftly mobilized personnel in accordance with conditions safely allowing.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is taking steps to secure the public's safety by controlling crowds and managing traffic. Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern about the recent federal immigration enforcement actions and their impact on the community. She stated that her office is collaborating closely with federal authorities to find the best path forward, emphasizing that everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but violence and destruction are intolerable, and those responsible will be held accountable.
In other developments, the FBI is reportedly investigating allegations of demonstrators obstructing immigration enforcement operations, and Vice President JD Vance has criticized the ICE raids, likening them to "insurrectionists" attacking border enforcement. Amidst the chaos, CNN is working to obtain more information from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the planned cancellation of federal funds for California.
Related Insights:
- ICE conducted coordinated operations across Los Angeles, serving four federal search warrants at three downtown locations and targeting various worksites and public areas. Over 44 suspected undocumented migrants were arrested at a single worksite alone, with another 77 people detained across the greater L.A. area on Friday, according to ICE data.
- Protests and demonstrations have included both peaceful marches and violent clashes with law enforcement, with protestors blocking freeways, setting fires, and throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, and other projectiles at police. Police have responded with less-lethal projectiles, tear gas, and flash bangs to disperse crowds. A curfew was enacted for downtown Los Angeles in response to the unrest.
- The National Guard deployment is a response to Trump's conflict with California's state and local leaders over immigration policies, accentuating a deepening rift in the U.S.
- Californian Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have publicly critiqued Trump, who, in turn, has labeled them "incompetent" in handling the crisis.
- The decision to send in the National Guard and Marines has led to a public war of words between the president and California officials.
Political tensions escalate as President Trump deploys 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles, a move labeled "purposefully inflammatory" by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Meanwhile, in the realm of general-news, the clashes between law enforcement and protesters during the immigration raids continue to highlight the crime-and-justice divide, with both peaceful marches and violent clashes persisting in various areas of Los Angeles.
