National guard deployment heightens tensions during Los Angeles immigration protests

Protests have erupted across Los Angeles following immigration enforcement raids targeting undocumented migrants, sparking widespread unrest in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. The demonstrations began after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers executed search warrants in areas such as the Fashion District and Westlake, leading to violent confrontations as protesters attempted to block arrests and threw objects at federal agents.

Escalation and response

Law enforcement responded with pepper spray, flashbang grenades, and rubber bullets as the protests turned volatile. Incidents of arson, looting, and violent clashes were reported throughout the city. A van was seen recklessly driving into a crowd of protesters, resulting in the driver’s arrest, though no injuries were reported. By the end of the weekend, dozens of arrests had been made, as chaos gripped city streets and major highways.

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump invoked a rarely used federal law to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom condemned the decision, calling it both illegal and immoral. This marked the first instance of a president unilaterally federalizing the National Guard since 1965. The troops were stationed outside federal facilities and detention centers, facing off against demonstrators waving Mexican flags and denouncing the immigration crackdown.

Local leaders’ criticism

Local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Newsom, expressed initial confidence in managing the protests with local law enforcement but sharply criticized the federal intervention. Both leaders argued that Trump’s actions were politically motivated and risked further inflaming an already tense situation.

Protests persisted into Sunday night, with downtown Los Angeles declared an unlawful assembly zone by police after repeated incidents of property damage and violent clashes.

A city divided

The unrest underscores deep divisions over immigration policy in Los Angeles, a city with a large immigrant population. Many protesters have family members directly impacted by the ICE raids, fueling their determination to resist what they see as federal overreach and aggressive targeting of undocumented communities.

The protests highlight the human toll of immigration enforcement and the broader political conflict over U.S. immigration policies, which continue to polarize communities across the nation.