Lvin Press
LOS ANGELES, June 8 (Reuters) — The California National Guard was deployed to Los Angeles on Sunday following two days of escalating protests against federal immigration raids, part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.
Video footage from downtown Los Angeles showed National Guard troops assembling outside a federal building where dozens of individuals detained in Friday’s raids were reportedly being held. The site, located near City Hall, has become the focal point of continued demonstrations, with another large protest expected Sunday afternoon.
U.S. Northern Command confirmed that National Guard forces had begun arriving in the city. President Trump defended the deployment in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling the protests “Radical Left” actions and vowing they “will NOT BE TOLERATED.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move, accusing Trump of seeking to manufacture a “spectacle.”
Footage captured Sunday showed several military-style vehicles and riot gear stationed at the federal complex. According to the Department of Homeland Security, around 1,000 protesters demonstrated at the location Friday night. Reuters has not independently confirmed this figure.
On Saturday, law enforcement clashed with several hundred demonstrators in Paramount, southeast of Los Angeles, and later with a smaller group downtown. Federal agents used tear gas to disperse crowds in both locations, according to Reuters reporters at the scenes.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the arrest of 27 individuals Saturday for failing to disperse during downtown protests. LAPD spokesperson Norma Eisenman declined to comment on whether “less lethal” methods—such as pepper balls—were used.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported three arrests for alleged assault on officers. Deputies also used “less lethal force” during the Paramount protest, though officials did not specify the tactics.
White House Defends Hardline Response
In a presidential memorandum issued Saturday, Trump ordered the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard personnel to respond to what he described as “violence and disorder” tied to immigration enforcement operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that active-duty military could be mobilized if unrest continues, noting that Marines at Camp Pendleton are on alert.
“There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents,” Hegseth posted online. “The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE.”
The protests have highlighted the deep political divide between Los Angeles, a Democrat-led city with a large immigrant population, and the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, who represents the Paramount area, criticized the federal response during an interview with CNN, saying local authorities are capable of handling the situation.
“This is him escalating it, causing tensions to rise,” Barragán said. “It’s only going to make things worse.”
ICE Arrests and Legal Fallout
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at least 44 people were arrested in Friday’s Los Angeles raids for alleged immigration violations.
President Trump has pledged to intensify deportation efforts, aiming for ICE to detain at least 3,000 undocumented migrants daily. However, critics say the sweeping operations have also ensnared legal residents and individuals with permanent status, sparking legal challenges nationwide.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS’s Face the Nation that National Guard troops would ensure the safety of peaceful protesters and law enforcement personnel.
Reporting by Jorge Garcia and Arafat Barbakh. Additional reporting by Sandy Hooper in Los Angeles, Daniel Trotta and Bo Erickson in Washington. Writing by John Kruzel and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Diane Craft.
