Large-scale protests have gripped Los Angeles in response to President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown and sweeping raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting a controversial federal deployment of the National Guard to the region.
Tensions escalated over the weekend as demonstrators gathered in growing numbers across the city, condemning the immigration raids and the administration’s broader policy approach. In response to the unrest, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to the area—despite objections from state and local officials.
“These radical left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will not be tolerated,” Trump declared on Truth Social, also announcing a new policy banning the use of masks at protests. “What do these people have to hide, and why?”
By Sunday morning, elements of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had arrived in Los Angeles. U.S. Northern Command confirmed the deployment of approximately 300 soldiers to three locations, stating they were tasked with protecting federal property and personnel.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a plea for calm, acknowledging the public’s right to protest while condemning any violence or destruction. “Everyone has the right to peacefully protest,” she said. “But let me be clear: Violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the deployment, accusing the White House of manufacturing a crisis. “This is not about public safety. It’s about political theater,” Newsom said. “Trump wants a spectacle, not a solution. I urge Californians to stay peaceful and not give him the chaos he’s looking for.”
Newsom later released a video showing National Guard troops arriving in Los Angeles County, calling the federal action “inflammatory” and warning that it risked further dividing the nation.
Critics across the political spectrum expressed alarm. Senator Bernie Sanders called the deployment a step toward authoritarianism, noting it was done without a formal request from state or local authorities. “We have a President who thinks he can bypass elected leaders and impose his will,” Sanders said on CNN.
However, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin defended the move, saying Trump acted to protect American citizens in the absence of local enforcement. “If a governor won’t protect his state, the President will,” he said.
Civil rights groups also weighed in. The ACLU condemned the deployment as “a declaration of war on Californians,” and warned of legal action. “There is no rational reason to deploy the National Guard on Angelenos exercising their First Amendment rights,” the organization said.
Meanwhile, the Defense Department signaled a further escalation could be possible. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were on “high alert.”
As tensions continue to rise, the protests in Los Angeles have become a national flashpoint in the ongoing battle over immigration policy and federal authority.
