PARAMOUNT, Calif. (AP) — President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, despite the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom. This decision follows a second day of violent clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration agents equipped in riot gear in the city of Paramount, situated south of Los Angeles.
The confrontations resumed on Saturday in the predominantly Latino city, where agents employed tear gas, flash-bang explosives, and pepper balls against protesters who retaliated by throwing rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. The atmosphere was charged with tension due to previous immigration sweeps that resulted in over 100 arrests earlier in the week, culminating in the detention of a prominent union leader accused of obstructing law enforcement during the protests.
The White House justified Trump's deployment order by citing an increase in public disorder. However, the timeline for troop arrival remains unspecified. Governor Newsom, a Democrat, criticized the move as "purposely inflammatory," warning that it would only exacerbate existing tensions. He urged protesters to avoid violence and to not give the federal government the reaction it desires.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated a willingness to deploy active-duty Marines if violence persisted, stating that they were on high alert, signaling the administration's aggressive military posture in response to the unrest.
The clashes in Paramount followed earlier unrest in neighboring Compton, where protests continued into the evening near a local doughnut shop. Demonstrators, numbering in the hundreds, utilized barbed wire barricades to avert the crowd from advancing as tensions flared throughout the day. Nearby, federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles also witnessed crowds, prompting local police to declare an unlawful assembly and initiate arrests.
During the confrontations, immigration officers encountered demonstrators in front of a business park near Home Depot, where protesters ignited fireworks and obstructed streets. Federal agents had initiated arrests in the parking lot of the Home Depot, where many day laborers typically wait for job opportunities.
Mayor of Paramount, Peggy Lemons, clarified that immigration raids were not conducted directly within the city, though federal agents were noted to be staging outside the local Homeland Security facilities. She stated, "When you handle things the way that this appears to be handled, it’s not a surprise that chaos would follow."
Many protesters displayed signs such as "No Human Being is Illegal" and shouted chants aimed at the immigration agents. The U.S. Attorney's Office revealed that more than a dozen individuals were arrested for obstructing immigration agents during the tensions.
Trump federalized a portion of California's National Guard under Title 10 authority, granting him direct control over the troops rather than Governor Newsom. The White House maintained that the actions of immigration authorities were crucial in addressing what they termed an "invasion of illegal criminals" into the U.S. The president's directives were reportedly issued shortly before he attended a UFC fight in New Jersey.
In response, Newsom highlighted that local law enforcement had timely access to assistance and claimed that there was currently no unmet need for federal troops. Following the unrest, the California Highway Patrol was directed to deploy additional officers to uphold public safety.
Protests first ignited in Los Angeles after federal immigration enforcement arrested 44 individuals for violations of immigration law. Recent operations in the city by the Department of Homeland Security reportedly led to the arrests of 118 immigrants, including individuals with connections to criminal organizations. One of the detained was David Huerta, a regional president of the Service Employees International Union, during a protest. His arrest prompted concern, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for Huerta's immediate release, describing it as a part of a "disturbing pattern" of detaining citizens exercising free speech.
