In Paramount, California, President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, overriding the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom. This action follows escalating tensions between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration officers, who were both stationed in riot gear.
On Saturday, confrontations erupted near a Home Depot in the predominantly Latino city of Paramount, situated to the south of Los Angeles. Federal agents, who were staging at a nearby Department of Homeland Security office, engaged with the protesters using tear gas, flash-bang devices, and pepper balls. In response, demonstrators threw rocks and chunks of cement at Border Patrol vehicles, while smoke rose from small fires set on the streets.
The unrest was fueled by a series of immigration authority sweeps conducted the day before, targeting areas such as Los Angeles’s fashion district and another Home Depot location. The ongoing operations have resulted in more than 100 arrests over the week, including a notable labor union leader who was detained on charges of obstructing law enforcement.
According to the White House, Trump’s decision to send in the National Guard is aimed at curbing “lawlessness.” However, Governor Newsom criticized the move on social media, arguing that it was meant to provoke and could worsen the situation. He urged people to avoid violent actions that could play into a federally orchestrated narrative.
Highlighting the administration’s firm stance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that active-duty military could be brought in if violence continues, emphasizing that Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton were on high alert.
As tensions mounted, protests continued into the night in Paramount, with large crowds assembling in the city center. Authorities erected barbed wire barriers to control the gatherings. Meanwhile, downtown Los Angeles also saw demonstrations outside federal facilities, prompting local police to announce an unlawful assembly and make arrests.
In a significant escalation, Trump’s federalization of part of California’s National Guard under Title 10 authority effectively puts him, rather than Governor Newsom, in charge. This event is reminiscent of past instances where the president has sought to impose federal control during civil unrest, although the Insurrection Act — a rarely used measure — has not been invoked.
Within the community, Paramount’s Mayor Peggy Lemons remarked on the understandable anxiety among residents triggered by the federal presence, asserting that the authorities’ heavy-handed tactics inevitably led to chaos. Protesters, some recording the events on their phones, openly expressed their opposition to immigration enforcement agencies.
More arrests occurred on Saturday, including individuals accused of hindering immigration operations. Although officials did not specify how many were detained that day or their exact location, videos posted on social media revealed the charged atmosphere.
Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard took place just before he attended a UFC match in New Jersey, underscoring the administration’s intent to demonstrate assertive federal intervention. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt justified the action, criticizing California’s Democratic leadership for failing to protect residents and lauding the immigration agency’s efforts to control illegal entries into the U.S.
Both Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisted on their capability to handle the situation locally without additional federal involvement. Bass underscored in a statement the acceptance of peaceful protests while condemning any acts of violence and promising accountability.
Historically, similar calls for National Guard deployment occurred during significant unrest, like the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. The current scenario, while intense, hasn’t escalated to a point warranting the invocation of drastic measures like the Insurrection Act.
The surge in demonstrations began after federal authorities apprehended 44 individuals for immigration violations on Friday, followed by ICE operations that led to 118 arrests. Among these detainees was David Huerta, a union leader whose arrest sparked political discourse, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating for his release, criticizing possible suppression of free speech.