Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles as immigration raids spark fierce protests

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to ongoing protests and violent clashes triggered by aggressive federal immigration raids. The White House framed the move as a necessary step to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester” in California.

The unrest began last week, when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials conducted multiple raids across downtown Los Angeles, targeting undocumented immigrants. These operations ignited widespread demonstrations, escalating into confrontations between protestors and law enforcement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom swiftly condemned the federal intervention, branding the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory” and warning it would only fuel further unrest. “This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom said, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to “take over” the California National Guard.

As protests spread, enforcement efforts extended into Paramount, southeast of Los Angeles, where demonstrators faced Border Patrol agents clad in riot gear. The White House signaled intentions to intensify its crackdown, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tweeting that if violence persists, active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton are “on high alert” and could be mobilized.

Federal officials defended the immigration raids as crucial to “halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States,” underscoring the administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement despite mounting public backlash.

With tensions escalating on both sides, the showdown between federal authorities and California’s leadership appears poised to deepen, spotlighting the bitter divide over immigration policy and state-federal relations.