National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Turn Violent

National Guard deployed to Los Angeles as violent immigration protests erupt over ICE raids. State and federal officials clash over response.

National Guard troops arrive in Los Angeles after ICE raids spark violent immigration protests across the city and surrounding areas.

 

Los Angeles, USA — Hundreds of California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday following violent clashes sparked by immigration enforcement raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The deployment, ordered by President Donald Trump, marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and federal enforcement actions.

 

The protests began Friday after ICE agents conducted sweeping operations across the Los Angeles area, detaining over 40 individuals. By the weekend, tensions had erupted into violence in multiple locations including Paramount and Compton, forcing local and federal authorities into a defensive posture. The move to deploy troops—up to 2,000 according to a presidential memorandum—has prompted sharp reactions from both local leaders and civil rights groups.

 

Federal officials framed the raids as part of a broader strategy to crack down on undocumented immigrants with criminal records. President Trump said the use of the National Guard was necessary to restore order in Los Angeles and safeguard federal personnel. “This is lawlessness,” Trump wrote on X Saturday evening. “The National Guard will help protect Americans from violent radicals trying to obstruct justice.”

 

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino echoed the sentiment. “Illegal immigration operations will continue, and anyone using violence to obstruct or impede these operations will be investigated and prosecuted,” he stated. Bongino emphasized that the federal government would not be deterred by civil unrest.

 

Local officials, however, pushed back. Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration of inflaming the situation and said California did not request military support. “This move is purposefully inflammatory,” Newsom posted on X. “LA authorities are equipped and coordinated. There is no unmet need for federal troops.”

 

While the Trump administration said it had activated 2,000 troops, the California National Guard confirmed that approximately 300 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were deployed across three locations in Los Angeles. They are tasked with protecting federal property and personnel, not engaging in law enforcement.

 

The immigration protests turned violent Friday night when demonstrators gathered near the Edward Roybal Federal Building in Downtown LA. According to witnesses and LAPD reports, protesters threw objects at law enforcement vehicles and attempted to block ICE vans. In response, federal agents reportedly deployed tear gas, escalating tensions.

 

Protests intensified Saturday in the city of Paramount, where false rumors of an ongoing immigration raid caused panic. Protesters clashed with law enforcement, and videos from the scene showed looting at a gas station and smoke projectiles being fired. A car caught fire in Compton during similar protests, though the cause remains unclear.

 

Mayor Karen Bass condemned ICE’s surprise raids and called the tactics “terrorizing.” She said the city had no advance notice of the federal operation. “These tactics sow terror in our communities,” Bass said, adding that her administration is working closely with immigrant rights groups to respond.

 

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons blamed the violence on local officials, accusing LAPD of failing to protect federal agents. “Over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building. It took over two hours for LAPD to respond,” Lyons claimed. LAPD denied the accusation, citing delays caused by ICE's use of chemical agents and traffic congestion.

 

Los Angeles Police said they declared an unlawful assembly Friday night after a small group of protesters began throwing concrete at officers. LAPD emphasized that their officers responded within 55 minutes and that the crowd's hostility and federal use of irritants made conditions hazardous.

 

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the federal response. Hegseth warned that the administration could send active duty Marines if conditions further deteriorated. “This is a national security risk,” he said on social media.

 

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed that federal operations would continue and warned the public not to obstruct agents. “Anyone who interferes will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department clarified that it played no role in the ICE raids but responded to crowd control and traffic management in Paramount. “We do not participate in any civil immigration enforcement,” the department said, adding that public safety and lawful protest were its only priorities.

 

Videos from Saturday show protesters shouting across barricades at Border Patrol agents. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks confirmed several arrests for alleged assaults on federal officers.

 

While much of the protest activity in central Los Angeles ended peacefully by Saturday night, violence outside the city—including in Paramount and Compton—highlighted growing tensions between state and federal authorities. Mayor Bass warned that further escalation could endanger community safety and erode trust in local institutions.

 

Civil rights groups like the ACLU of Southern California said ICE’s raids have led to the detention of entire families, including minors, and called for an immediate suspension of federal enforcement actions in sensitive locations like schools and churches.

 

Looking ahead, political analysts warn that the aggressive federal response in Los Angeles may be a harbinger of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to solidify its hardline immigration stance ahead of the 2026 midterms. Critics argue that such moves may backfire, deepening the rift between red-state federalism and blue-state resistance.

 

With violence subdued but tensions still high, all eyes remain on California’s response in the coming days. Whether the state will comply with federal escalation or mount a legal and political challenge could shape the trajectory of U.S. immigration enforcement for years to come.