Understanding the demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles following extensive citywide operations

Rowdy crowds flock to LA streets after National Guard soldiers ordered up by Trump descend upon LA Sundai. This mass hysteria follows several arrests during ongoing ICE operations in and around the City of Angels.

A beaten-up scrap between protesters and immigration authorities occurred outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA, with a similar scene happening just a day prior on Saturday. Agents employed flash-bang grenades and tear gas against protesters outside the detention center in an attempt to quell the unrest.

Following violent clashes between immigration authorities and protesters in the cities of Paramount and Compton, Trump orders a whopping 2,000 National Guard troops to descend upon LA County on Saturday. This move marks a rare occasion in decades where a state's National Guard is deployed without a request from its governor. California Gov. Gavin Newsom responds on Sunday, demanding Trump to rescind the order and return control of the National Guard to the state. Here's what you should know about the tumultuous happenings in LA.

How did the LA protests begin?

On Friday, ICE officers executed search warrants at various locations, including outside a clothing warehouse in the Fashion District. The move was triggered by a judge's finding of probable cause that the employer had been using forged documents for some of its workers. Tensions rose outside as crowds swarmed the agents' vehicles, trying to block their departure from the scene.

Frustration also boiled over at a downtown LA federal building, where rumors circulated that detainees were being held in the basement of the building. Supporters of immigrants' rights also protested outside Home Depot and Dale's Donuts stores, claiming there were migrant detentions happening at these locations.

The chaos continued in the LA County city of Paramount on Saturday, as it appeared federal law enforcement was conducting another immigration sweep there. Protesters in Paramount protested into the evening, with several hundred gathering near a doughnut shop, as authorities erected barbed wire and kept the crowd at bay. Protests also broke out again outside federal buildings in downtown LA, where law enforcement declared an unlawful assembly and began making arrests.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna shared on television that non-lethal munitions were fired by federal agents before deputies arrived at the scene. "We will protect your right to peacefully protest," Luna said, "but we will not tolerate violence or destruction of property."

Our LA footage captured some protesters barring the way of a U.S. Marshals Service bus, while others hurled rocks and other objects at law enforcement vehicles. The unrest also spread to the nearby city of Compton. Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons informed multiple news outlets that community members turned out in response to the activity by immigration agents, stating, "When you handle things the way that this appears to be handled, it's not a surprise that chaos would follow."

More than a dozen people were arrested and charged with impeding immigration agents, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced on social media, including the names and mug shots of several of those arrested, though he did not specify where the arrests took place.

Who was detained?

The Department of Homeland Security communicated in a statement that ICE operations in LA led to the arrests of 118 immigrants this week, including 44 people in Friday's bust. The arrested individuals were found to have links to criminal organizations, as well as prior criminal histories, according to DHS.

As a result of the Friday arrests, demonstrators gathered in the evening outside a federal detention center, shouting, "Set them free, let them stay!" and holding signs with anti-ICE slogans. Graffiti was also scrawled on the building. As of Saturday night, eight American citizens had been arrested in Paramount, ICE stated in a statement. The agency indicated that two juveniles will be released, while the others will face federal obstruction charges.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" Sunday and stated that the administration won't allow a "repeat of 2020" to transpire.

"The president knows that [Newsom] makes bad decisions, and that's why the President chose the safety of the community over waiting for Gov. Newsom to get some sanity," Noem shared. "And that's one of the reasons why these National Guard soldiers are being federalized so they can use their special skill set to keep the peace."

In addition to DHS, ICE officers in LA are also receiving assistance from Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Protective Service, and now, the National Guard. Among those arrested at the protests was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union. Justice Department spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy confirmed that Huerta was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled court appearance on Monday. It is unclear whether Huerta has obtained legal representation.

California Rep. Nanette Barragán shared with our News that ICE enforcement and removal operations are expected to occur daily for the next 30 days in LA County.

What has Trump said about the LA protests, and why is he deploying the National Guard?

On Saturday, Trump activated at least 2,000 National Guard soldiers in LA using Title 10 authority, ordering them to be stationed in the area for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. Trump also threatened to deploy active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton in San Diego County if chaos continues, should it get to that point.

"If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem," Trump wrote in a late-night post on his social media platform.

Defense Department officials have confirmed that most of the 2,000 soldiers are from the California National Guard, with some already on the ground in the LA area as of Sunday. When asked about the soldiers' role in LA on Sunday, defense officials emphasized that their mission is to protect federal property and personnel, not act as law enforcement. While the National Guard is providing support for the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers are also receiving assistance from Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Protective Service, and now, the National Guard.

The accelerated deployment of National Guard troops in LA, ordered by President Trump, follows heightened tension from ongoing ICE investigations involving alleged use of forged documents, resulting in violent clashes between protesters and immigration authorities, as reported in general news and political discussions.
As the chaotic situation in LA continues, with the arrests of several hundred individuals, including American citizens, on charges of impeding immigration agents, the involvement of law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and DHS, and the presence of National Guard troops, the ongoing developments have been a significant feature in the news, with discussions centering on the relevant laws and the role of the government in this situation.

Understanding the demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles following extensive citywide operations