Trump Sends National Guard to Los Angeles amid Anti-ICE Protests

US President Donald Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to growing unrest over immigration enforcement. The move comes after two consecutive nights of protests sparked by ICE raids, which have led to confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.

The White House stated the deployment was necessary to confront what it called “lawlessness” in California’s most populous city. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that active-duty troops may be mobilized if violence continues, noting that Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton are on alert.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the action, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and accusing Trump of creating a spectacle. “There is no shortage of law enforcement,” Newsom said, urging citizens to protest peacefully.

On Saturday, demonstrators clashed with riot police in southeast Los Angeles, throwing projectiles and setting a car on fire. Protesters also gathered outside a federal detention center demanding the release of detainees and denouncing ICE’s presence.

The federal government described the protests as attacks on law enforcement and claimed the deportation operations are essential to national security. Trump accused California officials of neglecting public safety and threatened to intervene further if local authorities fail to restore order.

This escalation marks the first National Guard deployment in Los Angeles since the 1992 riots. Trump invoked Title 10 authority, bypassing the governor and taking direct command of the Guard, a move critics say is legally questionable.

Civil rights lawyer Robert Patillo warned the deployment undermines state authority and threatens free speech. “Soldiers are not police,” he said, emphasizing the risk of militarizing law enforcement.

The crackdown aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations and secure the US-Mexico border. ICE has been directed to arrest at least 3,000 people daily. However, some legal residents have reportedly been detained, fueling further outrage and legal battles.

According to Al Jazeera reporters, more ICE operations are expected, likely prompting similar confrontations in other cities. Given Los Angeles’ large undocumented population and its sanctuary status, tensions are expected to remain high.