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Violent confrontations between protesters and security forces left downtown Los Angeles under heavy police watch Monday, following federal immigration raids that resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities described as undocumented immigrants and gang members. The unrest erupted over the weekend in a city with a substantial Latino population, escalating into street violence that saw cars set ablaze and tear gas deployed against demonstrators.
At least 56 people were arrested over two days of protests, with three officers sustaining minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The violence included the destruction of at least three autonomous Waymo vehicles and the injury of an Australian journalist struck by a rubber bullet during live television coverage.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue President Donald Trump over his deployment of National Guard troops without state consent, calling the action illegal. "This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted," Newsom wrote on social media. "He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard. We're suing him."
The federal deployment of California's National Guard — accomplished without the governor's approval — represents the first such override of state authority since 1965 during the civil rights era. Critics argue the move was designed to provoke confrontation as Trump pursues his second-term immigration crackdown.
Armed National Guard soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, equipped with loaded weapons and wearing full combat gear, maintained positions throughout downtown Los Angeles as police established containment lines. "You have the National Guard with loaded magazines and large guns standing around trying to intimidate Americans," protester Thomas Henning said Sunday.
The White House defended the president's actions, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Trump "stepped in to maintain law and order" after Newsom "did nothing as violent riots erupted in Los Angeles for days." Leavitt also framed the deployment within Trump's broader immigration agenda, saying "America must reverse the invasion unleashed by Joe Biden of millions of unvetted illegal aliens into our country."
Trump labeled the protesters "insurrectionists" and called for mass arrests of masked demonstrators. "BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!!" he posted on his Truth Social platform, later telling reporters that Americans would "see some very strong law and order."
When asked about potentially invoking the Insurrection Act — which would authorize military forces to serve as domestic police — Trump indicated broader deployments could follow. "We're looking at troops everywhere," he said. "We're not going to let this happen to our country."
Similar demonstrations occurred in San Francisco, where police arrested about 60 people during related protests. The Pentagon has placed approximately 500 Marines in "prepared-to-deploy status," signaling potential expansion of military involvement in civil enforcement.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump's military deployment as "a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos," reflecting broader Democratic opposition to the president's approach.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the violence while calling on the United States to respect migrant rights. She urged Mexican nationals in America "to act peacefully and not give in to provocations."
The confrontation underscores the deepening conflict between the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities and resistance from Democratic-led states, with California positioned as the primary battleground over federal versus state authority on immigration policy.
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