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PARAMOUNT, CALIFORNIA — In a politically explosive move late Saturday, Donald Trump ordered 2,000 California National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles, invoking federal authority to override state objections. The action came amid escalating unrest over a sweeping series of immigration raids, prompting fierce condemnation from Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.
What began as localized protests in the city of Paramount—home to a large Latino community—quickly swelled into a broader confrontation involving tear gas, barbed wire, flash-bangs, and more than a dozen arrests. Federal agents in riot gear clashed with demonstrators near a Department of Homeland Security office beside a Home Depot, as the federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants intensified.
Federal Raids Spark Chaos in LA’s Streets
The spark was lit Friday when immigration authorities arrested 44 people across Los Angeles, bringing the week’s tally past 100. By Saturday, federal forces had expanded their footprint, with Border Patrol vans assembling in Paramount and Homeland Security agents staging nearby. Protesters confronted them in growing numbers, setting off fireworks, breaking cinder blocks, and hurling projectiles at vehicles.
Smoke billowed from small fires. Shopping carts were dragged into the streets. Local police declared multiple unlawful assemblies as the standoff spread to downtown LA, where protesters surrounded federal detention centres. “ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are,” one protester shouted into a megaphone, capturing the tone of a community on edge.
Despite the heavy police presence, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli insisted no arrests were made at the Home Depot. He confirmed detentions elsewhere in the city and later published names and mugshots of individuals charged with obstructing federal agents.
Newsom Blasts “Inflammatory” Troop Deployment
Trump’s deployment was executed under Title 10, a legal framework that places federalised National Guard units under presidential—not gubernatorial—command. Governor Newsom, who was not consulted before the order, issued a pointed rebuke on X, calling the move “purposefully inflammatory and likely to escalate tensions.”
“They want a spectacle. Don’t give them one,” Newsom said in a follow-up message, as he directed the California Highway Patrol to reinforce public safety measures instead. The governor argued there was no unmet need that justified federal military intervention.
The White House, however, painted a starkly different picture. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described California’s Democratic leadership as having “completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” citing what she called “an invasion of illegal criminals.”
Trump signed the order before heading to a UFC fight in New Jersey, where he sat ringside with boxer Mike Tyson. Hours earlier, he had threatened on social media to take action if Newsom and Bass did not “do their jobs,” referencing “riots & looters” and promising to “solve the problem.”
Marines Placed on Standby as Political Firestorm Grows
In a further escalation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton were on high alert and could be mobilised if the violence continued. The announcement marked one of the most aggressive federal postures toward a U.S. city since the protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Yet unlike in 2020, Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act—though his critics argue Saturday’s move amounts to a similar political manoeuvre. During his first term, Trump pushed to use the act against racial justice protests, but was rebuffed by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who warned against deploying the military in domestic unrest without overwhelming justification.
Arrest of Union Leader Adds Fuel to Fire
Among those arrested Friday was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union, who had been protesting in support of undocumented workers. The Justice Department confirmed Huerta was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA, ahead of a Monday court appearance.
His arrest drew swift backlash. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Huerta’s immediate release, saying it reflected a “disturbing pattern” of detaining U.S. citizens for protesting.
Mayor Bass said she had spoken directly with Trump administration officials and made clear that federal intervention was neither requested nor needed. “We support the right to protest,” she said, “but the minute things turn violent, that is no longer protest—it’s disruption. And that’s when accountability begins.”
A State of High Alert
By nightfall Saturday, the streets of Paramount were lit by flashing blue and red lights as barbed wire barriers went up and drones buzzed overhead. Several hundred demonstrators remained near a doughnut shop along the boulevard where the first flashpoints had erupted.
Community leaders, including Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons, said the unrest stemmed from fear and confusion over the sudden immigration raids. “When you handle things the way this was handled, chaos follows. That’s not a surprise,” she told local reporters.
Whether the National Guard presence will stabilise the situation or inflame it further remains unclear. What is certain is that Los Angeles has once again become the centre of a battle over who controls America’s streets in moments of national discord—and what tactics are considered justifiable in the name of security.
Credit: AP News
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