MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Protests in Los Angeles against mass deportations crushed by federal troops

Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal troops when ”the authority of the Government of the United States” is at stake

Protests erupted in Los Angeles this weekend against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, leading to clashes with police and the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump.

Demonstrators blocked freeways, set vehicles on fire, and clashed with LAPD officers in riot gear near the Metropolitan Detention Center, prompting the use of tear gas and crowd-control munitions. The protests, deemed “unlawful” by LAPD, caused major traffic disruptions and resulted in at least one arrest, with hundreds of immigrants detained across the region.

Trump justified the National Guard deployment as a response to “violent” protests, while Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass criticized it as an overreach and provocation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Trump's administration has “a zero tolerance for criminal behavior and violence.” Tensions escalated as protesters opposed the military presence, with Trump vowing stricter law enforcement and banning masks at protests, further fueling debates over immigration policy and states' rights.

“The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE,” Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth said, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to say it constituted “deranged behavior.” Newsom also called their deployment a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” In addition, he urged his followers on social media: “Don't give Trump what he wants.”

“Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and voice their opinions. However, vandalizing property and attempting to seriously injure officers, whether Federal or LAPD, is not peaceful,” the LAPD said.

“Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Masks will not be allowed to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why?” he added. Sunday was the third day in a row of demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region.

Hence, “it’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved,” White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson explained. Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal troops when ”the authority of the Government of the United States” is at stake. The last time the National Guard was activated without a governor’s permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama.