Los Angeles continues to reel from intense civil unrest as protests against federal immigration raids entered their third day on Sunday, with clashes erupting near a federal detention center in downtown LA. The protests, which began late Friday, have since expanded across parts of the city, drawing thousands of demonstrators and prompting an aggressive federal response.
National Guard Deployment Sparks Political Showdown
In a controversial move, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles through US Northern Command, overriding the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“The presence of federal troops will only escalate tensions,” Newsom said in a formal request to withdraw the deployment, calling it “unlawful.”
Despite the state’s resistance, 300 soldiers from the California National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have already been stationed across three key locations in greater Los Angeles. Their stated mission: to protect federal personnel and property, particularly around immigration detention centers.
Violence Escalates Downtown
On Sunday, federal law enforcement clashed with protesters outside a federal building in the heart of LA. According to the LAPD, demonstrators threw bottles, concrete, and other objects, prompting a declaration of unlawful assembly. In response, officers deployed tear gas, batons, and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds.
LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell reiterated that city police will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and maintain a strict policy against questioning residents solely on immigration status.
“We’re not ICE,” McDonnell stated, emphasizing LAPD’s commitment to community policing despite the federal operation.
Hegseth’s Marine Threat Sparks Outrage
Amid the escalating crisis, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stirred further controversy by suggesting that Marines from Camp Pendleton could be deployed if the protests intensified. Governor Newsom slammed the idea as “deranged,” while Hegseth countered by accusing the governor of “allowing violence to get out of hand.”
This back-and-forth signals an unprecedented rift between state and federal leadership on how to handle domestic unrest.
What Sparked the Uprising?
The protests were ignited by federal immigration raids that began across Los Angeles late Friday night, focusing on neighborhoods such as Compton and Paramount. The raids were followed by mass gatherings outside federal buildings and detention centers, with demonstrators condemning what they called “inhumane” federal actions.
Tensions reached a boiling point Saturday and Sunday as riot police met demonstrators with force, leading to injuries and arrests.
Legal Uncertainty Looms
While the White House insists the deployment is essential to maintaining order, legal experts warn that the use of active-duty military or federalized National Guard units on U.S. soil for domestic law enforcement could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits such military roles within the country.
As the situation continues to develop, all eyes remain on Washington and Sacramento—and on the streets of Los Angeles, where the debate over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and federal authority is playing out in real time.