Trump deploys National Guard to LA immigration 'riots' after claiming state officials 'can't do their jobs'

The National Guard will be deployed to Los Angeles after protests in response to immigration raids extended into a second day.

California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the Trump administration is deploying "2,000 soldiers" to Los Angeles after local police used tear gas, stun guns, and riot shields to push back immigration protesters on Saturday.

Demonstrations began outside the Los Angeles Federal Building in the downtown area of LA on Friday after officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in the area.

On Saturday, as many as 400 people had gathered to protest in Paramount, a city south of LA, the LA sheriff said. However, that number dropped to dozens later in the day.

Mr Newsom warned in a post on X: "The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves."

He described the deployment as "purposefully inflammatory" and claimed it will "only escalate tensions".

President Donald Trump hit back at Mr Newsom in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.

"If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!," he wrote.

On Sunday, the president said that masks would no longer be allowed to be worn at protests.

Mr Trump's defence secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that active duty marines would also be mobilised if "violence continues".

LA mayor Karen Bass said that amid the recovery from this year's wildfires, "many in our community are feeling fear" following "recent federal immigration enforcement actions" across LA County.

Reports the guard would be deployed to LA came earlier on Saturday, from Mr Trump's border tsar Tom Homan on Fox News.

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More than 40 arrested in Friday raids

At least 44 people were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations during raids on Friday, with crowds of around "1,000 rioters" forming around the building before some "assaulted law enforcement officers, slashed tyres, and defaced taxpayer-funded property", according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The raids saw street vendors and day workers rounded up across Home Depots, a clothing factory, and a warehouse, Salas of Chirla (The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles) said.

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In a statement on Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said "violent mobs" had "attacked ICE officers and federal law enforcement agents carrying out basic deportation operations".

She described such activity as "essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States".

Ms Leavitt said Californian politicians were "feckless" and had "completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens", prompting Mr Trump's order to send in the guard.

However, the Los Angeles Police Department said protests across the city had remained peaceful and commended "all those who exercised their First Amendment rights responsibly".

It added: "Our commitment to safeguarding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of all Angelenos continues - day and night. We will maintain a heightened readiness posture and remain ready to ensure the continued safety of our communities."

On Saturday, more than a dozen "agitators" were arrested who "impeded agents in their ability to conduct law enforcement operations", according to Bill Essayli, interim United States attorney for the Central District of California.

Protests spread to second city

On Saturday, protests spread to the Paramount area, where there is a significant Latino population, after demonstrators spotted ICE employees in a Home Depot car park they appeared to be using as a base.

Law enforcement officers faced off protesters at a road junction at around 5pm where a car had been set on fire earlier in the day.

The roads were pictured strewn with trolleys and rubbish bins set on fire, as gas canisters and fireworks were also set off.

Commenting on Saturday's protests, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said: "It appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest."

Vice president JD Vance claimed that "insurrectionists" were seen "carrying foreign flags" and "attacking immigration enforcement officers" in Paramount.

"One half of America's political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil," he posted on X. "Time to pass President Trump's beautiful bill and further secure the border."

The clashes come amid Trump's nationwide crackdown on illegal migration.

As soon as he was re-elected in January he set a target of arresting 3,000 suspected illegal migrants per day - and promised to lock down the US-Mexico border.

(c) Sky News 2025: Trump deploys National Guard to LA immigration 'riots' after claiming state officials