Trump deploys National Guard troops to quell LA protests

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

LA protests die down after a day of chaos

Protests have died down in LA after a day of chaos, with what appeared to have been tear gas having filled the streets in Paramount, in the southeast of LA, where protesters clashed with security officers over immigration raids.

President Trump's decision to then deploy National Guard troops was met with objections, as California Governor Gavin Newsom called the decision "purposefully inflammatory" and called on demonstrators to "never use violence."

The protests began after federal officials conducted immigration sweeps in the LA area on Friday. 

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Organizers call for a third day of protests

US media outlets are reporting that organizers have called for a third day of protests after a day of clashes between protesters and law enforcement officials over immigration raids in Los Angeles.

The protests pit Democratic-run Los Angeles, where census data suggests a significant portion of the population is Hispanic and foreign-born, against Trump's Republican White House, which has made cracking down on immigration a hallmark of his second term.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

LA Mayor says National Guard troops not deployed

Shortly after President Donald Trump praised the National Guard's efforts in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass clarified that the troops had not yet arrived.

"Just to be clear, the National Guard has not been deployed in the City of Los Angeles," she wrote on X.

Trump earlier praised the National Guard "for a job well done" only hours after activating their deployment to Los Angeles.

According to The New York Times, Bilal Essayli, the interim US attorney for the Central District of California, said guard troops will be on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday.

"They're going to primarily be focused on protecting federal property, so I think you can expect to see them at least in downtown LA," the paper quoted him as saying. 

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

IN PICTURES: Protests over immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Trump administration eroding protection and rights of immigrants — lawyer tells DW

"This [Trump] administration's sole purpose is to conduct the biggest mass deportations in the history of the United States," Jeanette Zanipatin, an immigration lawyer, told DW.

"We are seeing them erode all the protections and rights that people have, especially immigrants, under the Constitution," she said.

Speaking about the ongoing protests in Los Angeles, Zanipatin said that the Trump administration is circumventing the Constitution and not allowing people to exercise due process. 

This administration is eroding "checks and balances between the federal branch and our court system," she said. 

Watch the full interview here.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Trump bars protesters from wearing face masks

Trump signed the order to deploy the National Guard shortly before he attended a UFC fight in New JerseyImage: Frank Franklin II/AP/dpa/picture alliance

US President Donald Trump thanked the National Guard "for a job well done" only hours after activating their deployment to Los Angeles.

But there was no confirmation on whether troops were already deployed to the area by Saturday evening.

"These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED," he wrote on his Truth social platform. 

He also said protesters would no longer be allowed to wear masks. "What do these people have to hide, and why," Trump asked.

This comes even though many immigration officers involved in the crackdown on undocumented migrants, an operation that sparked the protests, were wearing masks to conceal their identities.

ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, recently said agents cover up to protect their families

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

More than a dozen arrested during clashes in LA area

Tensions are high in parts of Los Angeles as sweeps in LA prompt pushbackImage: Eric Thayer/AP/picture alliance

US Attorney for California Bill Essayli said that more than a dozen 'agitators' were arrested after they impeded federal agents from carrying out law enforcement operations.

Los Angeles saw a second day of unrest Saturday as residents clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal agents and other law enforcement officials over raids on undocumented migrants. 

"We will continue to arrest anyone who interferes with federal law enforcement," Essayli wrote on social media. 

The protests have set Democratic-led LA, where census data shows a large Hispanic and foreign-born population, against President Donald Trump's administration, which has made immigration crackdowns a central focus.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security said ICE operations in Los Angeles resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

What to know about deployment of National Guard troops in past years

According to the Los Angeles Times, the National Guard has been deployed previously, but only during widespread civil unrest, for example, during the upheaval associated with the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, or the riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992.

This time, clashes between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and law enforcement have been limited to isolated areas, including the Home Depot in Paramount, a location in LA's fashion district, and the Civic Center.

The unrest was sparked when ICE officers executed search warrants at multiple locations on Friday. 

They were wearing military-style uniforms, arrived in armored trucks and other unmarked vehicles, and had their faces covered. 

"The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

California governor says Trump trying to create 'spectacle'

US President Donald Trump took federal control of California's state military to deploy soldiers into LA, the country's second-biggest city.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump Administration was trying to create "a spectacle" by deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles.

"The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles - not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle," he wrote on X.

He urged demonstrators,"don't give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully."

Law enforcement used flash-bang grenades and tear gas against crowds of protestersImage: Ringo Chiu/AFP

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

What to know so far about protests in LA area

If you're joining us now, we're covering news about the Trump administration having mobilized resources to send National Guard troops to the LA area following growing protests over immigration raids in the area.

Trump's order came after clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters in Paramount, a city south of LA, and neighboring Compton, where a car was set on fire.

Crowds also gathered again outside federal buildings in downtown LA, including a detention center, where local police declared an unlawful assembly and began to arrest people. 

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

White House slams LA 'insurrectionists' as protests grow over immigration raids

US Vice President JD Vance labeled protesters who confronted immigration agents during raids of local businesses "insurrectionists."

"Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers, while one-half of America's political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil," Vance wrote on X.

Another top White House official, Stephen Miller, described the protest against the federal immigration raids as an "insurrection" against the United States.

"An insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States," Miller, an immigration hardliner and White House deputy chief of staff, wrote on X.

The Trump administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, two US officials told the Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity. 

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Marines could be sent to LA if violence continues — Hegseth

The US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned that the Pentagon is prepared to send active duty Marines to Los Angeles, where there have been violent clashes between protesters and security forces.

The unrest began on Friday after at least 44 migrants were detained in multiple Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the city.

Hegseth's announcement that US Marines could be deployed came shortly after the White House said it was sending 2,000 National Guard troops to LA in response to the violence.

Marines are considered to be among the best trained and most elite in the US Armed Forces. They are known for amphibious landings and unconventional warfare in overseas operations.

"And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert," Hegseth said on X.

"The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK," the defense secretary said.

Hegseth added that "violence and destruction" against federal agents and facilities would not be tolerated.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

White House to deploy National Guard to quell LA protests

LA has seen violent clashes between police and demonstrators since Friday's ICE raidsImage: Daniel Cole/REUTERS

The administration of US President Donald Trump said Saturday it will deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.

Protesters have been clashing with security forces in the West coast city since dozens of migrants were detained in multiple raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Friday. 

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the "violent mobs" that have attacked officers "carrying out basic deportation operations" which she said were "essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals" into the country.

"In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester," Leavitt said.

Trump's so-called border czar, Tom Homan, also confirmed to US broadcaster Fox News on Saturday that federal authorities were "going to bring the National Guard in tonight."

"We are making Los Angeles safer. Mayor (Karen) Bass should be thanking us," Homan said.

Bass had said that LA authorities would "not stand" for immigrants being targeted by ICE.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was criticized and mocked by Trump earlier on Saturday, has slammed the move, calling it "purposefully inflammatory."

"The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions," Newsom said on X.

"This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust," the governor added.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Federal gov't will 'step in' if LA protests continue — Trump

US President Donald Trump has warned that the federal government will "step in" unless authorities in Los Angeles and California clamp down on protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

Protesters in the country's second-largest city have clashed with ICE agents on Friday and Saturday after dozens of migrants were detained in multiple raids. 

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!"

The president did not provide further details about what sort of action the federal government would take.

His remarks come after Bass and Governor Newsom criticized the White House and its crackdown on undocumented migrants, which is being spearheaded by ICE.

After Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass condemned the ICE raids on Friday, in which at least 44 people were detained, the governor of the state Gavin Newsom also criticized the federal government's "chaotic immigration sweeps across the country."

Newsom said California was "deploying additional CHP (California Highway Patrol) to maintain safety on Los Angeles highways to keep the peace."

The governor pointed out that CHP officers were not required to "assist in federal immigration enforcement." 

"The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves," Newsom said in the post on X.

06/08/2025June 8, 2025

Protests continue in LA after immigration raids

The immigration raids have become a flashpoint between the federal government and LA city leadersImage: Daniel Cole/REUTERS

Protesters denouncing immigration raids clashed with security forces in Los Angeles for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

In tense scenes, federal Border Patrol agents in riot gear and gas masks faced off with demonstrators in the city of Paramount in southeast LA.

Officers used tear gas in a bid to disperse the protesters.

The protests come after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested at least 44 immigrants in raids on multiple locations on Friday. 

Trump has promised to deport undocumented migrants Image: Eric Thayer/AP/picture alliance

According to the Department of Homeland Security, some 1,000 rioters "surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property" on Friday.

The arrests come amid a clampdown on undocumented migrants that has been promoted by President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises to deport thousands of immigrants living in the country illegally.

LA Mayor Karen Bass has condemned the ICE raids, which she said "sow terror in our communities."

Los Angeles, the country's second largest city which has long been run by Democratic officials, is home to millions of Hispanic-Americans and foreign-born nationals.

"We will not stand for this," she said in a post on X.

In a statement, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons slammed the protests, calling the scenes "appalling" and accusing Bass of taking "the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement."

"These violent rioters will be held accountable if they harm federal officers, and make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens," Lyons added.

White House aide Stephen Miller said on X that Friday's protests were "an insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States."