Trump Orders National Guard to L.A. Amid Immigration-Raids Protests

President Donald Trump has escalated an already tense situation in Los Angeles by authorizing the deployment of around 2,000 California National Guard troops—and later an additional 700 U.S. Marines—in response to widespread protests sparked by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids

The protests began on June 6 when ICE agents carried out raids across the city and surrounding suburban areas, arresting at least 45 people in connection with alleged immigration violations

Demonstrations quickly emerged outside federal buildings, including bus stops where arrests were made. Some protesters blocked entrances and physically tried to stop ICE vans from leaving—leading to tense confrontations

In a defiant speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday, Trump accused Los Angeles officials of failing to maintain order and insisted the military response was necessary to “liberate” the city from “paid agitators” and a perceived “foreign invasion.” He warned that any future unrest could be met with “equal or greater force,” suggesting this approach could be extended to other cities if needed

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass immediately denounced the move, calling it an authoritarian overreach. Newsom has filed lawsuits to block the nationalization of the state's Guard, arguing the federal action threatens civil liberties and state sovereignty

Bass enforced a nightly curfew in portions of downtown L.A., asserting local agencies had the situation under control and did not need federal troops

On the streets, the National Guard and Marines are primarily stationed around federal facilities, حماية tribal property and personnel. However, clashes have occurred sporadically as some protestors hurled rocks and set fires—reports indicate rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks were thrown, and Waymo autonomous vehicles were set ablaze

The legal battle has launched swiftly: California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a legal challenge in federal court. A hearing is scheduled for June 12 to consider whether the federal deployment oversteps presidential authority under the Insurrection Ac