U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area, effective Saturday, to quell what the White House described as “lawlessness” following two days of unrest sparked by a federal crackdown on undocumented migrants.
The move comes after confrontations between federal agents and protesters, where agents used flash-bang grenades and tear gas against crowds angered by dozens of migrant arrests. Footage showed a car set alight and individuals throwing rocks and fireworks at federal and local law enforcement vehicles.
President Trump invoked Title 10 authority, which places the National Guard under federal command, a rare step typically taken with state consent. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized California’s “feckless” Democratic leaders, stating the administration has “zero tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom vehemently opposed the deployment, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and warning it would “only escalate tensions.” He urged peaceful protest and criticized the federal government for taking over the California National Guard, stating it was “not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further escalated tensions by warning that if violence continues, “active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized – they are on high alert.” However, law professor Jessica Levinson noted that under Title 10, the National Guard’s role would likely be limited to logistical and personnel support, not direct policing unless the Insurrection Act is invoked.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles this week resulted in the arrest of “118 aliens, including five gang members.” Protests centered around the Paramount suburb, where federal agents reportedly used a Home Depot as a base, and outside a federal detention center. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the “fear” among residents but urged peaceful protest, condemning violence. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller echoed strong warnings, with Miller calling the protests “an insurrection.”
