Los Angeles Protests Continue, Trump Sends National Guard

LOS ANGELES, MONDAY - Residents of Los Angeles protested against the immigration policy of United States President Donald Trump. Trump deployed National Guard troops to quell the demonstrations on Sunday (8/6/2025). Clashes occurred.

Since Friday (6/6/2025), the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting raids and detaining immigrants in Los Angeles. Axios noted that the ICE operation has arrested 118 people on suspicion of immigration violations. Los Angeles residents have protested the disturbing action. Demonstrations have been going on for the past three days.

Trump referred to the demonstrations in Los Angeles as riots. He threatened to use violence against demonstrators who spit on police or National Guard troops, without mentioning any specific incidents.

"If we see danger to the country and its citizens, the state and order will be very, very strong," said Trump to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday.

The U.S. Northern Command has confirmed that a total of 2,000 California National Guard troops will be deployed. The National Guard is a reserve force that is often utilized in natural disasters and occasionally in cases of civil unrest.

Trump used Title 10 of the U.S. Code regarding the Armed Forces as the legal basis. Title 10 allows the deployment of the National Guard in the event of a rebellion against government authority. However, the order should be issued through the state governor.

Trump has not yet implemented the Insurrection Act of 1807, which grants the president the authority to deploy the military to quell civil unrest. "It depends on whether or not there is an insurrection," he stated.

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the deployment of the National Guard is unlawful. "This is a serious violation of state sovereignty, escalating tensions while diverting resources from where they are needed. Cancel that order. Restore control to California," he wrote on X.

The last time the National Guard was activated without the governor's permission was in 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect the civil rights march in Alabama.

After the clash between the police and protesters the day before, tensions in Los Angeles escalated on Sunday. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to the deployment of the National Guard by Trump, blocking major highways and setting vehicles on fire.

Several police officers patrolled the streets on horseback. Other personnel equipped with riot gear lined up behind the National Guard troops.

As noon approached, protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, where immigrants are held. They shouted "shame" and "go home" at members of the National Guard. As they approached the security forces, the authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to control the crowd.

Defense Minister Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon is prepared to mobilize active troops if violence continues in Los Angeles. According to him, the Marines at Camp Pendleton are on high alert.

"There is ample room for peaceful protests, but there is no tolerance for attacking federal agents who are carrying out their duties. The National Guard, and Marines if necessary, support ICE," wrote Hegseth on social media, Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Republican and Democratic parties are exchanging barbs over the deployment of the National Guard. Republicans assert that Trump aims to maintain peace, while Democrats believe that Trump is actually dividing the community.

Congress member from the Democratic Party, Nanette Barragan, also criticized the president's decision. "It will only worsen the situation in a context where people are already angry about immigration law enforcement," said Barragan, who represents California, to CNN.

Currently, the United States is home to the largest immigrant population in the world. Addressing illegal immigration is one of Trump's main agendas in his second term.

Trump promised to deport illegal immigrants in the US and to close the US-Mexico border. He set a target for ICE to apprehend at least 3,000 immigrants per day.

However, the raid on ICE also included individuals who legally reside in the country, some with permanent residency permits. Legal action against the government has emerged.

The actions of ICE have sparked small-scale protests in various cities across the U.S. in recent months. However, the unrest in Los Angeles is the largest and most sustained thus far.

Los Angeles is a stronghold for the Democrats. The majority of the population in this state consists of Hispanic individuals and those born abroad.

Estrella Corral, a resident of Los Angeles, stated that the protesters are angry because migrants who have done nothing wrong are being kidnapped by masked immigration officers. "This is our community, and we want to feel safe," she said.

Marshall Goldberg (78), another resident, felt offended because Trump deployed the National Guard. "We hate what they are doing to undocumented workers, but this brings the situation to another level by stripping away the right to protest and the right to assemble peacefully," he stated. (AP/AFP/Reuters)