Thousands protested in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to quell demonstrations against immigration raids. Clashes with law enforcement involved tear gas, flash bangs, and burning vehicles. California’s governor condemned the federal action, promising legal challenges amid escalating tensions and community unrest.
National Guard Deployed Amid Rising Tensions
Tensions in Los Angeles surged over the weekend as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to President Donald Trump’s unprecedented deployment of approximately 2,000 National Guard troops. The deployment, ordered without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, marked a significant escalation amid ongoing demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement operations.
Protesters blocked major thoroughfares, including the southbound 101 Freeway, and set several self-driving Waymo cars on fire. Police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds, which led to clashes throughout downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Violent Confrontations and Police Response
Sunday’s protesters built barricades out of park chairs and hurled rocks, chunks of concrete, electric scooters, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers. Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and moved to clear the freeway and adjacent streets. Mounted police patrolled the area alongside National Guard troops tasked with protecting federal facilities, including the Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants arrested in recent raids were held.
Despite the mass deployment of security, violence continued to escalate, with flash bangs echoing into the evening and several protesters arrested. The violence occurred in the backdrop of days of chaos triggered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles and surrounding cities such as Paramount and Compton.
Community Impact and Voices of Opposition
Protests have resonated deeply in Los Angeles, a city of nearly four million, where the federal crackdown has sparked widespread fear and outrage. Immigrant communities were most concerned with overly aggressive enforcement tactics and the deployment of the military in city streets.
The federal moves were denounced by former Vice President Kamala Harris, who resides in Los Angeles, as a “cruel, calculated agenda” intended to induce fear and division. She joined the protesters who were working for fundamental freedom and rights.
What’s Next?
As protests simmer and court battles over the deployment of the National Guard unfold, Los Angeles enters a period of heightened political conflict and civic upheaval. The federal policy of aggressive immigration enforcement and military occupation in an American city raises basic questions regarding the role of government, civil rights, and the future of immigration policy.
Security authorities on both sides urge people to remain calm, but the mood remains tense, with chances of heightened tension in the coming days.
To stay up-to-date and informed, visit our news page, ask your immigration questions on Immigration Question, and get responses from licensed attorneys. For attorneys, streamline your case and lead management when you download the Immigration Question app.
