LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests related to federal immigration enforcement operations, officials said on Monday.
The deployment of approximately 2,000 National Guard members was authorized by a presidential memorandum to protect federal personnel and property amid demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the area, the White House said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom objected to the federalization of state National Guard troops, describing the move as unnecessary and inflammatory, according to statements from his office and reported by multiple outlets. Newsom has pursued legal action challenging the deployment's constitutionality.
Protests erupted in Los Angeles following ICE raids and enforcement actions targeting individuals without legal immigration status. Demonstrations, concentrated in downtown areas, included clashes with authorities in some instances, with reports of arrests, use of crowd control measures and property damage.
The White House stated that the troops were called into federal service under relevant authorities to address lawlessness and support federal operations. Pentagon officials confirmed coordination for the deployment, which bypassed standard gubernatorial control in this instance.
Local law enforcement reported varying levels of unrest, with some protests remaining peaceful while others involved confrontations. Details on the exact number of arrests or extent of injuries remained limited in initial reports, with authorities attributing information to ongoing assessments.
Trump administration officials, including border enforcement representatives, described the action as necessary to maintain order during heightened immigration enforcement. Opponents, including state Democrats and civil rights groups, argued it escalated tensions and raised concerns about the use of military forces in domestic policing contexts.
As of Monday, National Guard units were visible in parts of Los Angeles supporting federal positions. Further protests were anticipated, though specific plans were not detailed in available statements.
The situation follows broader national debates over immigration policy in the current administration. California officials have emphasized state-federal tensions, while the administration has defended the measures as required to execute federal law.
Officials said operations were continuing, with the duration of the deployment set at up to 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. Monitoring of developments in Los Angeles was ongoing, according to Pentagon and local authorities.
