Around 300 National Guard troops were deployed in Los Angeles on Sunday under orders from President Donald Trump, following clashes between federal immigration agents and protesters trying to stop deportations.
Some troops were stationed outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, one of several locations where hundreds of demonstrators confronted federal law enforcement over the past two days. Despite their presence, the streets nearby remained mostly calm, with only a small group of protesters gathered.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move as an “overreaction,” pointing out that it was the first time in decades the National Guard was activated without a governor’s request. Trump invoked a legal authority allowing federal troops to be deployed in cases of “rebellion or danger of rebellion” against the U.S. government.
The National Guard members were sent to three locations across greater Los Angeles, as several protests and marches were planned for Sunday. The unrest started Friday in downtown LA and spread Saturday to Paramount, a largely Latino city, and nearby Compton. Protesters in Paramount tried to block Border Patrol vehicles, throwing rocks and chunks of cement. Federal agents responded with tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper balls. Dozens were arrested, including a union leader accused of interfering with law enforcement.
Tensions escalated following a series of immigration sweeps the previous day, with more than 100 arrests reported in the city over the week. Governor Newsom spoke with Trump for about 40 minutes Friday night, though no details were released about any further communications.
There was some confusion about when the National Guard actually arrived. Trump praised their efforts shortly before midnight, but officials later confirmed troops had not yet reached the city.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the troops were deployed to secure operations and ensure protests remained peaceful. The Guard included members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shown in photos carrying long guns and armored vehicles.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that active-duty Marines could be deployed if violence continued. Newsom condemned this as a “provocative show of force” that would worsen tensions, calling the threat to deploy Marines on U.S. soil “deranged behavior.”
Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Trump’s order as a sign of a president moving toward authoritarianism and overstepping congressional authority. In contrast, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a strong Trump supporter, defended the move, blaming Governor Newsom for failing to take necessary action and praising the president for stepping in.
