Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid immigration protest unrest
President Donald Trump has ordered 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to intensifying immigration protests, triggering backlash from state and local leaders who say the move risks escalating an already volatile situation.
Key information:
- Deployment: Trump federalized 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles late Saturday.
- Protests: Triggered by ICE raids across Los Angeles County, which have led to over 100 arrests.
- Legal authority: The president did not invoke the Insurrection Act, but used federal statutes to place Guard units under his control.
- Reaction: California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass condemned the move as provocative and unconstitutional.
- Potential escalation: Defense officials say active-duty Marines could be deployed if violence worsens.
The federal deployment follows days of unrest after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched large-scale operations targeting undocumented migrants across Southern California. Demonstrations have taken place in downtown Los Angeles and the city of Paramount, where residents reported confrontations between federal officers and protesters.
Clashes have turned increasingly tense, with law enforcement using tear gas, flashbang grenades, and what officials described as "less-than-lethal munitions" to disperse crowds. More than a dozen protesters have been arrested for allegedly obstructing federal operations.
Despite opposition from state officials, the White House defended the decision. Trump, writing on his social media platform, accused Newsom and Bass of failing to contain "riots and looters" and said the federal government would "step in and solve the problem."
The president stopped short of invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows federal military intervention in domestic unrest. Instead, he relied on statutory authority that enables the federalization of National Guard troops during emergencies. Legal experts have questioned whether this authority extends to bypassing a state governor’s consent.
"This raises serious constitutional questions," said Steve Vladeck, a professor of law and national security expert at the University of Texas. "The Guard can’t legally engage in civilian law enforcement without further legal steps."
Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border security adviser, warned that state and local officials who interfere with federal agents could face legal consequences. "Gov. Newsom should be on the phone thanking President Trump for making a state safer," Homan told NBC News. He also claimed officials "should stop applauding the protesters and support law enforcement."
On the ground, video footage showed tense standoffs between federal officers in riot gear and demonstrators outside detention centers. In Paramount, tear gas lingered outside a Home Depot where the protests initially erupted. Local witnesses reported that migrants sought shelter inside nearby buildings.
While LAPD initially reported peaceful primarily demonstrations, federal agents later formed skirmish lines in downtown Los Angeles and began making arrests. The situation remained fluid into Sunday morning.
This marks one of the most significant domestic military deployments under Trump’s presidency, coming amid his renewed push for hard-line immigration enforcement. On the campaign trail, he has vowed to use Republican governors to send troops into Democratic-led states if federal immigration goals are obstructed—an approach that could test the limits of presidential power.
Sources: NBC News, The Washington Post, BBC, The Guardian
