Trump Sends 2,000 National Guard Troops to Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate

President says move is needed to “restore law and order”, while California leaders warn it will pour fuel on the fire.

Key Points

2,000 National Guardsmen mobilised. President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum ordering troops into Los Angeles after two days of unrest linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Possible Marine back-up. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth put active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton on high alert in case violence grows.
Governor objects. California Governor Gavin Newsom calls the federal action “purposefully inflammatory” and insists local agencies can manage.
Protests centre on ICE raids. Demonstrations erupted in Paramount, the Fashion District and outside the Edward Roybal Federal Building after workplace sweeps detained scores of people, including children.
Clashes, arrests and tear gas. Border Patrol says several protesters have been arrested for assaulting agents; LAPD and sheriffs’ deputies report projectiles, bonfires and traffic blockades.

Friday workplace raids: ICE teams executed search warrants in the Fashion District, a Westlake Home Depot and other sites, arresting roughly 40 people. Advocacy groups say hundreds more—including minors—were held in the basement of the federal building downtown.
Community outcry: News of overnight detentions without lawyers or family contact spread quickly on social media, prompting marches to the Roybal facility.

Crowds gathered outside a Home Depot on Paramount Boulevard on Saturday after rumours of another raid.
Video shows protesters shouting across the street at agents; smoke projectiles were used to disperse the crowd, and shopping trolleys were tipped to block traffic.

Separate groups rallied beside the Roybal Federal Building, some throwing concrete chunks at vehicles. Authorities declared an unlawful assembly just after 7 p.m. Friday.
By midnight several clashes had flared in Compton and South Gate, with tear gas and flash-bangs reported.

In a White House statement, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said National Guard forces will “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester”.
The presidential memorandum authorises 2,000 Guardsmen; equipment convoys began arriving at the National Guard armoury in central LA before dawn on Sunday.
Hegseth warned that if attacks on federal officers continue, active-duty Marines could be deployed from nearby Camp Pendleton.

Governor Newsom: The federal move “will only escalate tensions”. He argues Los Angeles can already “access law-enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice”.
Mayor Karen Bass condemns the raids as tactics that “sow terror” in a city built by immigrants. She says neither she nor LAPD had advance warning.
LAPD’s response: The force rejects ICE claims that it waited two hours to help, saying agents had already fired chemical irritants, creating a hazardous scene for arriving officers.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons accuses LA leaders of siding with “chaos and lawlessness” while officers attempted to arrest “criminal illegal aliens”—including gang members and traffickers.
Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks reports “several” arrests for assaults on agents and warns that any attack “will be met with swift justice”.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says investigators are reviewing footage to identify suspects who hurled rocks at enforcement vehicles.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli vows raids will continue and promises to prosecute anyone who obstructs federal work.

Witnesses described helicopters overhead, sirens echoing through south-east LA and armed officers in riot gear lining streets.
Some local businesses closed early; residents fearful of further clashes sheltered at home.

Short-term: National Guard troops will assist with traffic control and perimeter security around federal facilities. Commanders say their rules of engagement prohibit direct immigration enforcement.
Political fallout: Expect fresh legal challenges from California officials who argue Trump’s order violates states’ rights. Law scholars note previous deployments were made at governors’ request—not over their objections.
Community response: Immigrant-rights groups plan vigils and know-your-rights workshops; organisers urge peaceful protest but fear a larger federal crackdown.

The Guard arrival marks the largest federal troop presence in Los Angeles since the 1992 riots.
The dispute highlights deep divisions over immigration policy and federal-state authority.
Residents should monitor official city channels for road closures and safety advisories.

ABC News live update, “National Guard members begin arriving in Los Angeles”. abcnews.go.com
ABC News, “Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard members after LA immigration protests”. abcnews.go.com
Reuters, “Trump deploys National Guard as Los Angeles protests continue”. reuters.com
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, press statement 7 June 2025. gov.ca.gov
CBS Los Angeles, “Crowd blocks Paramount Boulevard during ICE operation”. cbsnews.com
KABC/ABC 7, “Live updates: Tensions flare in downtown LA”. kvia.com
ACLU of Southern California, “Statement on ICE raids in Los Angeles”. aclusocal.org
Politico, “Los Angeles Democrats clash with Trump administration over ICE crackdown”. politico.com
LAPD statement via ABC 7 Chicago, “Trump deploys 2,000 Guard members…”. abc7.com
Los Angeles Times, “2,000 National Guard troops will be sent to L.A.”. latimes.com