Breaking: Trump Sends National Guard to LA

The Biden administration’s immigration enforcement actions have triggered widespread protests in Los Angeles, culminating in a federal order issued Saturday by former President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. The decision marks a rare federal override of state authority, provoking sharp backlash from California officials who argue the move will intensify, rather than resolve, civil unrest.

The unrest follows a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented immigrants, including gang members, across the Los Angeles area. Demonstrations erupted over the past two days, particularly in neighborhoods with high Latino populations. Federal authorities responded with flash-bang devices and tear gas as confrontations escalated. Video footage circulating online showed a car on fire and demonstrators throwing projectiles at federal vehicles.

Additional clashes were reported at multiple sites, with protesters launching fireworks at local police lines and erecting makeshift barricades in the streets using debris and shopping carts. Demonstrators waved Mexican flags and, in at least one instance, burned a U.S. flag. Tensions culminated Saturday in the suburb of Paramount, where activists gathered outside a federal facility reportedly being used as a temporary base for enforcement operations.

Federal and Local Authorities Respond to Unrest

Trump’s directive places the California National Guard under federal control for deployment into Los Angeles. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt justified the action as necessary to address what the White House characterized as sustained lawlessness. She criticized California’s Democratic leadership for allegedly allowing unrest to escalate unchecked and affirmed the administration’s zero-tolerance stance toward attacks on law enforcement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly condemned the move, describing it as a calculated effort to incite confrontation. He accused federal officials of staging a political spectacle under the guise of public safety and urged residents to remain peaceful despite the military presence.

The legal framework underpinning the deployment relies on Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which permits federal mobilization of the National Guard in specific scenarios. However, legal analysts noted that the current action stops short of invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow the use of regular military forces in domestic law enforcement roles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled that active-duty troops at Camp Pendleton remain on alert and may be mobilized if conditions deteriorate further.

Federal and local officials report that arrests have already been made in connection with Friday’s demonstrations, during which masked ICE agents conducted high-profile raids in various parts of Los Angeles. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 118 individuals were detained during operations, including five suspected gang members.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged public anxiety, emphasizing the need for nonviolent expression. She reaffirmed the city’s commitment to maintaining order while protecting the right to protest. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that law enforcement would continue to act against violent demonstrators, asserting that legal consequences would follow for those inciting chaos.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the situation as a direct challenge to national sovereignty and legal authority, further underscoring the administration’s position. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli indicated that National Guard troops were expected to be fully deployed within 24 hours.