Los Angeles has witnessed escalating tensions as federal agents and National Guard troops clash with protesters opposing immigration raids. The unrest, now in its third day, follows President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to enforce deportation operations, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority—a move that has reignited national debate about executive power and states’ rights.
On Sunday, tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang devices were used against demonstrators gathered near a downtown detention center. Protesters also blocked traffic on the 101 freeway and set multiple self-driving Waymo vehicles on fire. Law enforcement declared an “unlawful assembly” in downtown Los Angeles and made dozens of arrests as tensions surged throughout the day.
The deployment of roughly 300 National Guard troops without the governor’s consent marked the first such action since 1965. Governor Newsom called the move “a serious breach of state sovereignty” and criticized the federal government for creating a “spectacle” rather than addressing genuine security needs.
President Trump defended his decision by invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law typically reserved for suppressing invasions or large-scale rebellions. He described the situation as an “occupation” by undocumented immigrants and said troops were necessary to restore law and order.
On Truth Social, Trump claimed without evidence that “insurrectionist mobs” were attacking federal agents to disrupt deportation efforts. He warned that additional forces, including marines, could be deployed if necessary.
Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Los Angeles, waving Mexican flags and holding signs with slogans such as “Immigrants Make America Great.” Although some clashed with police, others urged peaceful resistance. The raids, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeted businesses across the city and resulted in dozens of arrests.
The federal-state conflict has intensified amid a broader standoff between the Trump administration and California over immigration policy. While California leaders have vowed to resist mass deportations and federal cooperation, Trump has threatened funding cuts over the state’s policies on immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.
Representative Nanette Barragán, who represents parts of southern Los Angeles, told CNN that the National Guard deployment is politically motivated. “Trump doesn’t like the optics of peaceful protests,” she said. She also confirmed that federal authorities had warned local officials to prepare for 30 days of enforcement actions.
As of Sunday, ICE had detained approximately 150 individuals in the Los Angeles area. Homeland Security officials stated the focus was on “criminal aliens,” but critics pointed to indiscriminate raids, including the arrest of day laborers.
With up to 2,000 guardsmen potentially being deployed, the situation in Los Angeles could become a litmus test for how far states can go in resisting federal immigration policy—and how far a president can go in overriding local authority to enforce his agenda.
