This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/08/los-angeles-protests-immigration-ice

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Teargas and pepper balls used on LA protesters as Democrats decry deployment of troops Teargas and flash-bangs used on LA protesters as opposition to Trump intensifies
(about 4 hours later)
National guard troops sent to downtown LA as people again gather to protest against Trump’s immigration raids Thousands take to LA streets to protest against Ice raids and president’s deployment of national guard troops
US politics live – latest updatesUS politics live – latest updates
US national guard troops clashed with demonstrators in Los Angeles on Sunday as police used teargas and “less-lethal munitions” to disperse massive crowds of people protesting against Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Federal agents clashed with demonstrators in Los Angeles on Sunday as police used teargas and “less-lethal munitions” to disperse massive crowds of people protesting against Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and his deployment of the California national guard against the will of the state’s elected leaders.
There were scenes of chaos amid tense confrontations between authorities and protesters outside the Metropolitan detention center in downtown LA, and a large group of demonstrators brought traffic to a stop in both directions of the 101 freeway. Footage captured on Sunday afternoon showed protesters holding signs on the freeway facing off against law enforcement in tactical gear as the sound of firing munitions echoed through the area. Thousands of Angelenos swamped the streets around city hall, the federal courthouse and a detention center where protesters arrested in days before are being held. They also brought a major freeway to a standstill.
The president’s decision to deploy national guard troops into Los Angeles, against the wishes of state and local officials, has sent shockwaves through American politics. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and other Democratic governors across the US have sharply criticized the move, describing it as an “alarming abuse of power”. Newsom has called on the administration to rescind the “unlawful” deployment. Vocal and boisterous, the crowd for large parts of the day was mostly peaceful. But tensions flared several times, with police deploying teargas to disperse groups of protesters and firing round after round of flash-bangs in an attempt to push the protesters back up the freeway off-ramps. Several autonomous vehicles were captured set on fire.
“This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California,” Newsom said. Trump’s decision to deploy national guard troops into Los Angeles, against the wishes of state and local officials, has sent shockwaves through American politics. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and other Democratic governors across the US have sharply criticized the move, describing it as an “alarming abuse of power”. Newsom has called on the administration to rescind the “unlawful” deployment.
Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the national guard late on Saturday night following days of clashes between demonstrators and US immigration authorities. The decision marked a stunning escalation in a broad crackdown on immigrants in the United States following raids across the country which have triggered protests. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California,” Newsom said on Sunday.
Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 national guard late on Saturday night following two days of clashes between demonstrators and US immigration authorities.
The decision marked a stunning escalation in a broad crackdown on immigrants in the United States following raids across the country which have triggered protests.
Trump’s federalization of the guard troops is the first time an American president has used such power since the 1992 LA riots. At that time widespread violence broke out in reaction to the acquittal of four white police officers for brutally beating Black motorist Rodney King.Trump’s federalization of the guard troops is the first time an American president has used such power since the 1992 LA riots. At that time widespread violence broke out in reaction to the acquittal of four white police officers for brutally beating Black motorist Rodney King.
The situation quickly escalated on Sunday following the deployment of some 300 national guard troops. By the afternoon, the Los Angeles police department had declared the protest an “unlawful assembly”, ordering everyone in the area to leave or face arrest. The department reported that arrests were under way and that it had authorized the use of “less-lethal munitions”. By Sunday morning, some 300 national guard troops had been deployed to the city. As the day began, two dozen of them appeared to news crews outside the federal complex as though intent only on posing for photographs.
Popping sounds could be heard through the area as protesters chanted “go home” and shame. Journalists and protesters were reportedly struck. The Los Angeles police said that two officers were injured after being struck by motorcyclists attempting to “breach a skirmish line”. By afternoon, thousands of protesters had gathered downtown. Protesters at the metropolitan detention center peacefully confronted heavily armed national guard soldiers .
Newsom had urged protesters to “stay peaceful”. “We’re not afraid of you!” one protest organiser with a bullhorn, John Parker, yelled. One of the many banners on display read: “National Guard LOL.” Graffiti reading “Fuck ICE”, “LAPD can suck it” and “Kill all cops” covered every building and wall in the immediate vicinity.
“Don’t give Donald Trump what he wants,” Newsom said. The Los Angeles police department declared the protest an “unlawful assembly”, ordering everyone in the area to leave or face arrest.
Trump’s move has been followed by the threat of even more escalation. Earlier, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s controversial and hardline defense secretary, had raised the possibility of deploying US marines onto the streets of the Democrat-run state following the protests that erupted in the wake of raids from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) authorities in the state. Still, the protests continued for hours with people gathering around city hall and a federal courthouse and police reported arresting a number of people. In downtown, officers began patrolling the area on horseback. The California Highway Patrol attempted to remove people from the nearby 101 freeway.
“Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It’s COMMON SENSE,” Hegseth wrote on social media. Popping sounds could be heard through the area as protesters chanted “go home” and shame. Journalists and protesters were reportedly struck by projectiles. The Los Angeles police said that two officers were injured after being struck by motorcyclists attempting to “breach a skirmish line”.
“If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized – they are on high alert,” Hegseth said. There were isolated episodes of vandalism – graffiti sprayed on buildings and vehicles, and a protester who damaged the side mirror of a parked car he passed. A line of spray-painted Waymo driverless cars, one with a smashed windshield, were later set on fire.
Camp Pendleton is a large military base south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. By Sunday evening, tensions had risen, and protesters continued to obstruct the freeway.
Newsom called the potential deployment of US marines “deranged” . Newsom and the Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, had urged protesters throughout the day to stay peaceful, and doubled down on their plea on Sunday evening.
“The secretary of defense is now threatening to deploy active-duty marines on American soil against its own citizens. This is deranged behavior,” Newsom wrote on X. “Protest is appropriate to do, but it is just not appropriate for there to be violence,” Bass said.
The mayor was firm in her condemnation of the deployment of the national guard, saying it’s “the last thing Los Angeles needs” and that she had discouraged the administration from doing so.
“I was hoping to prevent this situation from happening,” Bass said. “Our city is still trying to recover from the wildfires.”
“We do not need to see our city torn apart,” she said, adding that people are “terrified”.
Trump’s move has been followed by the threat of even more escalation. The US Northern Command said in a statement that about 500 marines from Twentynine Palms, California, about two hours east of Los Angeles, are in “prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD’s protection of federal property and personnel efforts”.
Earlier, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s controversial and hardline defense secretary, had raised the possibility of deploying US marines onto the streets of LA.
Newsomhas called the potential deployment of US marines “deranged” .
He and other California leaders have been adamant that local law enforcement had adequately responded to the protests on Friday and Saturday. “Law enforcement authorities from the city and county of Los Angeles are safeguarding public safety, and, as demonstrated by the robust law enforcement response yesterday evening to protect federal facilities, local law enforcement resources are sufficient to maintain order,” Newsom wrote to Hegseth.
Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, criticized Newsom’s stance on ABC’s Face the Nation. She said: “If he was doing his job people wouldn’t have gotten hurt the last couple of days … Governor Newsom has proven that he makes bad decisions. The president knows that he makes bad decisions and that’s why the president chose the safety of this community over waiting for Governor Newsom to get some sanity.”Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, criticized Newsom’s stance on ABC’s Face the Nation. She said: “If he was doing his job people wouldn’t have gotten hurt the last couple of days … Governor Newsom has proven that he makes bad decisions. The president knows that he makes bad decisions and that’s why the president chose the safety of this community over waiting for Governor Newsom to get some sanity.”
The independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders called the situation a threat to US democracy. “We have a president who is moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism,” he told CNN. “He does not believe in the rule of law.” The independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders called the situation a threat to US democracy.
Tensions in Los Angles had begun on Friday, when protesters clashed with law enforcement officials conducting immigration raids on multiple locations in the sprawling city’s downtown. “We have a president who is moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism,” he told CNN. “He does not believe in the rule of law.”
In a joint statement, Democratic governors on Sunday condemened Trump’s deployment of the California national guard as an “alarming abuse of power”.
Tensions in Los Angeles had begun on Friday, when protesters clashed with law enforcement officials conducting immigration raids on multiple locations in the sprawling city’s downtown.
On Saturday, US immigration authorities extended enforcement action into Paramount, a majority Latino area south-east of Los Angeles, and were met with more protests outside an industrial park.On Saturday, US immigration authorities extended enforcement action into Paramount, a majority Latino area south-east of Los Angeles, and were met with more protests outside an industrial park.
A standoff developed between border patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks and protesters. As demonstrations continued, law enforcement deployed teargas and protesters also threw objects at them. At least one car was set alight.A standoff developed between border patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks and protesters. As demonstrations continued, law enforcement deployed teargas and protesters also threw objects at them. At least one car was set alight.
Trump then promised to send in the national guard – a move that many critics have feared might happen during his second administration amid fears that the US is sliding into authoritarianism. Trump then promised to send in the national guard.
“The federal government is taking over the California national guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles – not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” Newsom said later. “Don’t give them one.” Newsom immediately condemned the move: “The federal government is taking over the California national guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles – not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” Newsom said later. “Don’t give them one.”
On his own social media platform, Truth Social, Trump praised the national guard, even before it was reported that troops had arrived. “Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest,” he said in a post filled with insults at Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and Newsom. Trump has long promised mass immigration raids across the US after campaigning in part last year on anti-immigrant sentiment. Since he returned to office Ice raids have increased, in particular targeting some areas traditionally left alone such as court houses where immigrants might be attending hearings.
“These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why???” he added. Immigration officers could be in California in heightened numbers for a month, a Democrat congresswoman has been told.
Ice officers and police have been wearing face masks during raids and arrests but Noem defended this on Sunday, saying: “It’s for the safety of those individuals.” She did not specify how law enforcement will prevent protesters from wearing masks. Nanette Barragán, the US representative who has Paramount in her constituency, said she has been told to prepare for a large presence ofIceagents in California.
Nanette Barragán, who has Paramount in her constituency, said she has been told to prepare for a large presence ofIceagents in California.
“We’ve been told to get ready for 30 days of enforcement. Thirty days of ICE enforcement,” Barragán told CNN, adding that their presence is “going to escalate the situation.”“We’ve been told to get ready for 30 days of enforcement. Thirty days of ICE enforcement,” Barragán told CNN, adding that their presence is “going to escalate the situation.”
“We haven’t asked for the help. We don’t need the help. This is [President Trump] escalating it, causing tensions to rise. It’s only going to make things worse in a situation where people are already angry over immigration enforcement,” Barragán said.“We haven’t asked for the help. We don’t need the help. This is [President Trump] escalating it, causing tensions to rise. It’s only going to make things worse in a situation where people are already angry over immigration enforcement,” Barragán said.
Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar”, or the White House executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations, warned that immigration enforcement will continue “every day” in Los Angeles.
“I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in LA,” Homan told NBC News. “Every day in LA, we’re going to enforce immigration law. I don’t care if they like it or not.”
Homan was asked if his prior warnings to elected state and local officials to not obstruct federal immigration enforcement included Newsom and Bass. Homan said he did not believe Bass had “crossed the line yet”.
But, he added, “I’ll say it about anybody. You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”
Trump has long promised mass immigration raids across the US after campaigning in part last year on anti-immigrant sentiment. Since he returned to office Ice raids have increased, in particular targeting some areas traditionally left alone such as court houses where immigrants might be attending hearings.