The Trump administration announced on Saturday that 2,000 National Guard troops would be deployed in Los Angeles as federal agents faced growing resistance during the second consecutive day of protests triggered by recent immigration raids.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the military is ready to deploy active-duty forces if unrest continues. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton have reportedly been placed on “high alert.”
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Tensions flared in the Paramount area of southeast Los Angeles, where demonstrators clashed with federal officers, some waving Mexican flags. Another protest downtown attracted around 60 participants chanting slogans like “ICE out of L.A.!”
According to a White House statement, President Trump signed an order authorizing the troop deployment to address what he called “lawlessness.” Tom Homan, Trump’s immigration advisor, confirmed that the National Guard would be on the ground in Los Angeles by Saturday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the decision, calling it “deliberately provocative.” He argued the deployment was unnecessary and meant to create a public spectacle, urging residents to respond peacefully.
Newsom also denounced Hegseth’s mention of sending active-duty Marines as “deranged behavior,” stating it was unacceptable to threaten the use of military force against American citizens.
Trump took to Truth Social, warning that if Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fail to manage the situation, the federal government would intervene to end what he described as “riots and looting.”
The situation highlights a stark divide between the Democratic leadership in Los Angeles — a city with a large Hispanic and immigrant population — and the Republican White House, which has prioritized harsh immigration enforcement as a central policy.
Vice President JD Vance condemned the protests, labeling participants as “insurrectionists carrying foreign flags” and accusing political leaders of vilifying immigration enforcement. Senior aide Stephen Miller went a step further, calling the unrest a “violent insurrection.”
Despite the charged rhetoric, administration officials confirmed that the Insurrection Act had not yet been invoked. Officials noted that National Guard units could be mobilized quickly, and efforts were underway to source the 2,000 troops.
The Insurrection Act, which authorizes the use of the military to control civil disorder, hasn’t been used since the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Footage from the Paramount protest showed federal agents in gas masks amid overturned shopping carts and gas canisters filling the air. Witnesses reported that several protesters were detained.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that individuals were taken into custody after they failed to comply with orders to disperse, but did not disclose further details or arrest numbers.
One protester, Ron Gochez, declared that federal authorities would face resistance wherever they attempt to detain immigrant workers, promising “organized and fierce” opposition.
Protests first erupted Friday night following a series of ICE raids across the city that led to at least 44 arrests for alleged immigration violations.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed that about 1,000 people participated in Friday’s protests. However, Reuters was unable to verify this figure.
Angelica Salas, who leads the immigrant advocacy group Chirla, expressed concern that legal representatives had not been granted access to those arrested, calling the situation “deeply troubling.”
President Trump has vowed to ramp up deportations, with the White House aiming for ICE to detain at least 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily. However, the crackdown has also affected some individuals with legal residency, sparking legal challenges.
When asked for comments on the protests and raids, ICE, DHS, and LAPD remained silent.
News footage from Friday showed convoys of unmarked vehicles and agents in military-style gear moving through Los Angeles as part of the enforcement actions.
According to Salas, raids were carried out near Home Depot locations — targeting street vendors and day laborers — as well as at a garment factory and warehouse.
Mayor Karen Bass condemned the federal operation, saying it spread fear in immigrant communities and undermined the city’s public safety. “We will not stand for this,” she stated.
