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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following escalating protests and clashes linked to a sweeping immigration crackdown. The White House announced on Saturday that the move aims to confront what it described as “unchecked lawlessness” in the country’s second-largest city.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the Pentagon is ready to deploy active-duty military forces if unrest continues. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton have reportedly been placed on high alert in anticipation of potential violence.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment, calling it “deliberately provocative.” On X (formerly Twitter), the Democratic governor argued that the National Guard was not being sent due to any policing shortage but rather “for political theater.” He urged protesters to remain nonviolent, saying, “Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”
Second Night of Unrest in Los Angeles
Saturday marked the second consecutive day of protests in Los Angeles, centered in the Paramount neighborhood. Protesters clashed with security forces equipped in riot gear, who responded with tear gas. Streets were littered with overturned shopping carts as demonstrators demanded the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Some participants waved Mexican flags and wore respiratory masks while launching projectiles—including rocks, bottles, and fireworks—at law enforcement. A vehicle was also reportedly set on fire.
The unrest followed reports of ongoing immigration raids near a hardware store in the area. A day earlier, ICE agents conducted operations across the city, arresting at least 44 individuals for alleged immigration offenses.
In response, protesters rallied outside a federal detention center, chanting, “Set them free, let them stay!” Many held anti-ICE signs, and graffiti was seen on the building’s exterior.
The White House condemned the demonstrations, labeling them “violent mobs” targeting federal officers involved in deportation efforts. Officials framed the crackdown as essential to halting the influx of undocumented immigrants and criticized California’s Democratic leadership for failing to maintain order.
A Presidential Memorandum signed by Trump authorized the deployment of National Guard troops, although the exact timing of their arrival remains unclear. Trump had earlier warned California leaders via social media that the federal government would “step in and solve the problem” if local officials didn’t take action against what he called “RIOTS & LOOTERS.”
Legal Concerns and Unprecedented Authority
Trump’s decision has sparked legal and constitutional concerns. According to the California governor’s office, the President invoked Title 10 authority—placing the troops under federal command and bypassing the governor’s control.
Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan noted that this marks the first deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles since the 1992 riots following the Rodney King verdict. Legal experts argue this move is highly unusual. Civil rights attorney Robert Patillo described the federalization of troops without state consent as unprecedented and warned of the risks of using military forces for domestic law enforcement.
“Soldiers are not police officers. Using them in this way threatens civil liberties and undermines constitutional norms,” Patillo said. He also criticized Trump’s broader use of federal authority, citing interference in issues like congestion pricing in New York, university curricula, and corporate policies.
Mass Deportation Plan Sparks Backlash
The unrest comes as part of Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, which includes a pledge to carry out record-breaking deportations and reinforce the U.S.-Mexico border. The White House has set a daily goal of 3,000 ICE arrests.
However, even legal residents and green card holders have reportedly been swept up in the raids, prompting legal challenges and public outcry.
Reporting from Compton, Al Jazeera’s Phil Lavelle highlighted that the crackdown was anticipated, given Trump’s 2024 campaign promises. “Trump campaigned on launching the largest deportation effort in U.S. history,” Lavelle said. “He’s long expressed disdain for sanctuary cities like Los Angeles, which refuse to cooperate with federal deportation efforts.”
Los Angeles, home to a large undocumented Latino population, was seen as a likely flashpoint. ICE has confirmed more raids are imminent, suggesting continued unrest in the coming days.
