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President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Saturday, overruling strong objections from Gov. Gavin Newsom, after a second day of volatile protests and violent clashes between demonstrators and federal immigration officers.
The federalized deployment, carried out under Title 10 authority, comes amid growing unrest over sweeping immigration raids across Los Angeles that have resulted in over 100 arrests. The move underscores the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration and comes as protests grow more heated — particularly in Paramount, a predominantly Latino city south of Los Angeles.
Federal officers, including Border Patrol and DHS agents in riot gear, fired tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper balls at crowds, while protesters responded with rocks, fireworks, and cinder blocks. At least one car was set on fire in nearby Compton, and dozens were arrested for allegedly impeding immigration agents.
Trump Escalates Federal Response
The White House said Trump’s action was necessary to address “lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” In a social media post, Trump warned that if Gov. Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass failed to control the protests, the “Federal Government will step in and solve the problem… the way it should be solved!!!”
“In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Trump signed the deployment order just before attending a UFC fight in New Jersey, where he was seen ringside with boxer Mike Tyson.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took the warning a step further, threatening to mobilize active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton if violence escalates. “They are on high alert,” Hegseth posted on X.
Newsom, Bass Push Back
Gov. Gavin Newsom called the move “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would “only escalate tensions.” He emphasized that California had no unmet need for federal intervention and insisted local authorities were managing the situation.
“Local authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice,” Newsom wrote on X.
Mayor Karen Bass echoed Newsom’s stance and urged peaceful protest while warning that violence would not be tolerated. “The minute things turn to violence … that is not acceptable and people are going to be held accountable,” she said on ABC7.
The California Highway Patrol was deployed by Newsom to bolster crowd control, but Bass and Newsom both maintained that there is no need for National Guard intervention.
Standoff in Paramount
The most intense confrontations occurred near a Home Depot in Paramount, where DHS agents were staging. Protesters set off fireworks, dragged shopping carts into the street, and barricaded roads with cinder blocks. Border Patrol vans were pelted as they exited the area.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said more arrests were made Saturday of individuals with deportation orders but did not confirm any detentions at the Home Depot site. More than a dozen individuals were arrested for interfering with immigration operations, Essayli said, posting mug shots and names online.
Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons voiced concern, saying the chaos was predictable given the federal government’s approach.
“When you handle things the way that this appears to be handled, it’s not a surprise that chaos would follow,” Lemons told reporters.
Legal, Political Fallout
Protests were sparked Friday after ICE officers arrested 44 immigrants, including five allegedly tied to criminal organizations. SEIU regional president David Huerta was arrested while protesting and is being held ahead of a Monday court appearance.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Huerta’s arrest, calling it part of a “disturbing pattern of arresting and detaining American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.”
The administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, though the option remains. Trump notably threatened to use it during protests in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, but was talked down by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
As protests spread to downtown Los Angeles, including outside a federal detention center, police declared unlawful assemblies and made additional arrests. The city remains on edge as debate continues over federal overreach, the limits of presidential authority, and the treatment of immigrant communities.
What Comes Next
With National Guard troops en route and Marines on standby, the standoff between federal and state leadership is escalating. Trump’s aggressive posture, particularly during an election year, is likely to deepen partisan divides while raising critical questions about immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and the use of military force on U.S. soil.
This is a developing story.
