National Guard deployment sparks mass protests in Los Angeles over immigration crackdown

Monday 09 June 2025 - 09:02

By: Zahouani Ilham

National Guard deployment sparks mass protests in Los Angeles over immigration crackdown

Protests intensified across Los Angeles on Sunday following President Donald Trump's unprecedented decision to deploy the National Guard in response to escalating tensions over immigration raids. Thousands took to the streets, some blocking major freeways and setting autonomous vehicles ablaze. In response, law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to disperse the crowds.

Mounted officers and riot police accompanied Guard troops stationed near key federal buildings, including a detention facility holding recently detained immigrants. Protesters rallied in downtown Los Angeles, targeting several city blocks. Some used park furniture as makeshift barriers and hurled objects at police. Authorities declared the gathering unlawful, prompting many to disperse by evening.

The demonstration marked the third consecutive day of unrest sparked by immigration arrests and the sudden deployment of about 300 federal troops. Outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, protesters chanted slogans at Guard members armed with rifles and shields. As tensions escalated, officers launched smoke canisters and crowd-control rounds. Demonstrators later obstructed the 101 freeway until state officers restored traffic flow.

At least four self-driving Waymo vehicles were torched nearby, sending thick smoke into the sky. Authorities imposed an unlawful assembly order over several blocks as the evening wore on.

California Governor Gavin Newsom demanded the withdrawal of the troops in a letter to Trump, describing the deployment as a violation of state sovereignty. Mayor Karen Bass echoed this sentiment, criticizing the administration’s actions as politically motivated rather than focused on public safety.

Despite these objections, the federal government defended the move. A White House spokesperson rejected Newsom’s claims, asserting that Los Angeles was already facing significant problems prior to federal intervention.

The protests were initially sparked by raids that began Friday, targeting locations such as LA’s fashion district and Home Depot parking lots. On Saturday, more enforcement activity near a Homeland Security office in Paramount—an area with a large Latino population—drew further backlash. Demonstrators attempted to obstruct Border Patrol vehicles, prompting agents to use tear gas and crowd-control tactics.

Federal authorities reported over 100 immigrant arrests throughout the week. Many protesters, including a high-profile labor leader, were also detained. While the protests did not reach the scale of past uprisings in Los Angeles, such as the 1992 Rodney King riots or the 2020 demonstrations against police brutality, the deployment marked a rare instance of federal troops being sent without a governor’s request—the first since 1965.

On Saturday, Trump invoked a federal law allowing military intervention in the case of rebellion. He authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members and told reporters on Sunday that violent elements in Los Angeles would not be tolerated.

Roughly 500 Marines at Twentynine Palms were reportedly on standby, prepared to mobilize if needed. Former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the immigration raids and military presence, describing them as part of a deliberate strategy to instill fear and division. She expressed solidarity with those defending civil liberties and human rights.