President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles to disperse protests that began in response to immigration raids, the White House said in a statement Saturday night.
Immigration authorities and demonstrators have clashed for two days in the Los Angeles area, with unrest beginning Friday after dozens of people were detained by federal immigration agents across different locations. The arrests come amid Trump’s crackdown on immigration, which has involved waves of raids and deportations across the country.
Law enforcement in riot gear deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse crowds in downtown Los Angeles and the city of Paramount over the two days, with authorities reporting multiple arrests Saturday.
“These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the deployment of troops “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would only escalate tensions.
“This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom said.
Officials from the Trump administration described protesters as “lawless rioters.” The Los Angeles Police Department, meanwhile, said Saturday’s demonstrations within the city “remained peaceful” and “events concluded without incident.
Elsewhere in Los Angeles County, a crowd of protesters in Paramount became “increasingly agitated, throwing objects and exhibiting violent behavior toward federal agents and deputy sheriffs,” the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in an advisory Saturday night. In response, the department requested additional resources countywide and deployed additional deputies.
In nearby Compton, a vehicle was set on fire where protesters began to gather, video from CNN affiliate KABC showed. On Friday, video showed several projectiles being thrown at officers equipped with body armor and protective shields outside a Los Angeles federal detention center.
Leavitt argued that Trump called in the guardsmen to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester” and “violent mobs attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents.”
Trump invoked his authority under Title 10, which allows the president to call in the National Guard as necessary to repel invasion, suppress rebellion or execute laws. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said active duty marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized if the unrest continues. (CNN)
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