LOS ANGELES, CA — President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the weekend following two days of violent clashes between immigration protesters and federal enforcement officials. The unrest erupted after immigration authorities reportedly detained 40 individuals in the area, triggering large-scale demonstrations across the city.
The protests began Friday evening and escalated throughout Saturday, with demonstrators confronting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in several neighborhoods, including Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. Videos posted to social media showed federal agents in riot gear and protesters blocking roads, chanting against recent immigration enforcement actions.
In a statement released Sunday night, the White House said the troop deployment was “essential to restore order and uphold the rule of law,” citing what it described as “mob violence targeting federal agents and government property.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, however, sharply criticized the move, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and accusing the administration of escalating tensions for political gain. “This is not a moment for military force — it’s a moment for leadership and dialogue,” Newsom said during a press briefing in Sacramento on Sunday.
The confrontation reflects deepening political friction between the Trump administration and California, a state that has frequently clashed with federal policies on immigration, climate change, and education funding.
Just last week, Governor Newsom floated the possibility of withholding portions of the state’s federal tax contributions in response to a CNN report that the Trump administration was considering cutting federal grants to California’s public universities. The proposed cuts would allegedly target institutions perceived as “non-cooperative” with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“This administration continues to treat California not as a partner in governance, but as a political adversary,” Newsom said last Thursday. “If Washington insists on playing hardball, we have tools of our own.”
The protests in Los Angeles are the latest in a string of public demonstrations across the country following a recent uptick in immigration enforcement actions. Advocacy groups have accused the administration of targeting immigrant communities with little regard for due process or public safety.
Federal officials have defended their actions, asserting that all individuals detained in Los Angeles were subject to lawful enforcement proceedings and that claims of mistreatment were “baseless.”
As of Monday morning, the National Guard remained stationed at key government facilities and transportation hubs throughout Los Angeles. A curfew had not been imposed, but city officials urged residents to avoid protest areas and remain peaceful.
It remains unclear whether the federal deployment will be extended beyond the current week.
California National Guard on Flickr by TheCalGuard
