The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops as federal agents continue to confront demonstrators in Los Angeles, where protests have persisted for the second consecutive day following a series of immigration raids.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the Pentagon is ready to mobilize active-duty troops should violence escalate. He stated that Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton are currently “on high alert.”
Federal security agents engaged with protesters in the Paramount area of southeast Los Angeles, where some demonstrators waved Mexican flags and others donned respiratory masks. A separate protest in downtown Los Angeles attracted around 60 participants, who chanted slogans such as “ICE out of L.A.!”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised the National Guard’s role in Los Angeles, while simultaneously criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of both the protests and recent wildfires. He declared, “If Governor Gavin Newscum and Mayor Karen Bass can’t do their jobs, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS!”
Gov. Newsom responded to Trump’s remarks, calling them “purposefully inflammatory.” He condemned the idea of deploying active-duty Marines against American citizens, describing it as “deranged behavior.”
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff characterized Trump’s actions as “unprecedented,” asserting that the deployment of National Guard troops without the Governor’s authorization serves only to “inflame tensions, sow chaos, and escalate the situation.” He added, “If the Guard is needed to restore peace, the Governor will ask for it.”
In contrast, Vice President JD Vance labeled the protests as insurrectionist behavior, claiming that “Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers.” Senior White House aide Stephen Miller reinforced this narrative, branding the protests a “violent insurrection.”
Despite these claims, the administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, which empowers a president to deploy the U.S. military to enforce the law during civil disorder. The last instance of this law being enacted was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots at the request of the California government. A U.S. official noted that National Guard troops can be deployed rapidly, sometimes within 24 hours.
As events unfolded, authorities began detaining some protesters, and the Los Angeles Police Department reported “multiple people have been detained for failing to disperse after multiple warnings were issued.”
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as law enforcement officials clashed with demonstrators, with video capturing federal agents in green uniforms deploying tear gas and using flash bang grenades to break up large crowds. One protester, Ron Gochez, emphasized the resilience of demonstrators, stating, “Now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country to kidnap our workers without facing organized and fierce resistance.”
Protests erupted following enforcement operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city, resulting in the arrest of at least 44 individuals for suspected immigration violations. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the presence of approximately “1,000 rioters” at the protests on Friday.
Angelica Salas, executive director of the immigrants’ rights organization Chirla, expressed concern about the lack of access to lawyers for those detained, describing the situation as “very worrying.” Meanwhile, Mayor Bass condemned the immigration raids, stating, “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. We will not stand for this.”
In pursuit of a stricter immigration policy, Trump has vowed to deport record numbers of undocumented individuals and has set ambitious targets for ICE to apprehend at least 3,000 migrants daily. Unfortunately, such aggressive tactics have also affected legally residing individuals, leading to various legal challenges.
As the situation in Los Angeles continues to unfold, it raises critical questions about the balance between national security and individual rights in a deeply polarized political landscape.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international—Monitoring.
