Los Angeles (National Times): Amid mounting protests over controversial immigration raids in Los Angeles, US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum ordering the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, CNN reported. The move follows a series of federal immigration enforcement actions that led to the detention of dozens of individuals, sparking citywide unrest.
The protests, which erupted on Friday, drew large crowds accusing the federal government of conducting “mass chaos” and “paramilitary-style operations” targeting immigrant communities. In response, the Department of Defense began mobilizing National Guard units to support federal law enforcement.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth characterized the demonstrators as “violent mobs” seeking to obstruct the removal of what he termed “criminal illegal aliens.” In a post on X, Hegseth warned that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton could be deployed if violence persists, citing national security concerns.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the deployment as necessary to “halt the invasion of illegal criminals” and accused California’s Democratic leaders of fostering lawlessness. “ICE officers and federal agents were attacked by violent mobs,” Leavitt said, adding that Washington would not stand by.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the federal response, calling it “reckless and inflammatory.” “This chaos, fueled by Donald Trump, is tearing families apart and undermining the very industries that sustain our economy,” he said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also voiced her disapproval, stating the city had not been informed of the raids beforehand. “ICE was chasing people down the street. It was mass chaos,” she said, affirming the city’s commitment to finding a more measured, lawful response in coordination with local law enforcement.
Although many of the demonstrations across downtown Los Angeles remained peaceful, with chants like “Free them all” and signs reading “Stop the Deportations”, violence flared in areas such as Paramount and Compton. In Compton, a vehicle was torched, and outside a federal detention center, protesters clashed with agents, vandalized property, and were dispersed by officers using riot gear and smoke bombs.
Among those arrested was David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, who was accused of obstructing access to a federal site. US Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized, “If you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted.” After being treated for injuries sustained during his arrest, Huerta called the raids unjust and dangerous.
The LAPD issued a statement distancing itself from the federal operations, reiterating that it would not assist in immigration enforcement or mass deportations. “Our role is to keep all communities safe, without threatening their trust in us,” said Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) strongly criticized the federal crackdown, labeling it a “vile paramilitary operation” and urging elected officials to take immediate action to protect vulnerable communities.
According to CNN, the federal raids targeted multiple sites, including a business in LA’s Fashion District suspected of using forged worker documents. At least 44 individuals were taken into custody, and the FBI is investigating reports of protesters obstructing law enforcement activities.
By Saturday evening, authorities confirmed that additional security resources had been deployed throughout Los Angeles County to monitor and contain potentially volatile situations.
