Trump administration deploys 2,000 national guard troops amid Los Angeles immigration protest unrest

The Trump administration announced Saturday that it would deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, where federal agents clashed with hundreds of demonstrators protesting immigration raids for a second consecutive day.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the Pentagon was ready to mobilize active-duty forces, noting that Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton were on high alert in case violence escalated.

Protesters gathered Saturday in the Paramount neighborhood of southeast Los Angeles, where some waved Mexican flags. Later that evening, a smaller demonstration of about 60 people assembled in downtown L.A., chanting slogans such as “ICE out of L.A.!”

According to the White House, President Trump signed a memorandum to authorize the troop deployment, aiming to confront what he described as “lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” Trump’s border adviser, Tom Homan, confirmed on Fox News that the National Guard would be deployed in the city that day.

California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly criticized the move, calling it “deliberately provocative.” On X (formerly Twitter), Newsom argued that the deployment was not driven by a lack of police resources but rather a desire to create a political spectacle. He urged protesters to remain peaceful, saying, “Don’t give them one. Never use violence.”

Newsom also slammed Hegseth’s suggestion of sending active-duty Marines as “deranged behavior,” warning against the use of military force on American civilians.

Trump posted on Truth Social that if Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were unable to maintain control, “the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”

The tensions highlight a clash between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic-run Los Angeles, where a large portion of the population is Hispanic and foreign-born. Immigration enforcement has become a central theme of Trump’s second term.

Accusations of “Violent Insurrection”

Vice President JD Vance wrote on X that demonstrators waving foreign flags and confronting immigration officers amounted to “insurrection,” and accused Democratic leaders of vilifying immigration enforcement.

Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide known for his hardline immigration views, also labeled the protests as a “violent insurrection.”

Despite the rhetoric, two U.S. officials told Reuters that the Insurrection Act had not been invoked. One noted that National Guard forces could be mobilized within 24 hours and that planning was underway to fulfill the deployment order.

The Insurrection Act, a law from 1807, allows the president to use military force to address civil unrest. It was last used in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots, at the request of the state governor.

Footage from Paramount showed heavily armed officers in green uniforms wearing gas masks facing off with protesters amid debris and smoke from tear gas canisters. Reuters reporters saw authorities begin to detain individuals.

The Los Angeles Police Department said on X that “multiple people have been detained for failing to disperse after multiple warnings,” but provided no further details. There was no official confirmation of arrests.

“This shows them they can’t come into our communities, take our workers, and expect no resistance,” said protester Ron Gochez, 44.

The demonstrations began Friday night after ICE agents conducted a series of operations in Los Angeles, arresting at least 44 people for alleged immigration violations.

DHS said there were roughly 1,000 protesters on Friday. Reuters could not verify this number. Angelica Salas, executive director of immigrant advocacy group CHIRLA, said lawyers were being denied access to the detainees, calling it “very worrying.”

Escalating Immigration Crackdown

Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations and to secure the southern border. The White House has reportedly directed ICE to detain at least 3,000 migrants daily.

Critics say the crackdown has also ensnared legal residents, including green card holders, sparking lawsuits and legal challenges.

ICE, DHS, and the LAPD did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday’s operations or the protests.

News reports showed unmarked military-style vehicles and federal agents moving through city streets Friday. Raids targeted day laborers and vendors near Home Depot locations, a garment factory, and a warehouse, according to Salas.

Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids, stating: “I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and undermine the very notion of safety. We will not stand for this.”