Trump deploys National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests

In the United States, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on June 6, 2025, in response to protests regarding immigration enforcement. Protests erupted following immigration raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles, with demonstrators gathering to express their opposition to those operations. Notably, the demonstrations occurred after ICE arrested 118 immigrants in the week leading up to the protests. The deployment is intended to support federal law enforcement amid escalating tensions between protesters and authorities. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard, referring to it as an inflammatory measure that would worsen local tensions. Local authorities, including the Los Angeles Police Department, maintained that they were already managing the situation without the assistance of federal troops. Trump utilized Title 10 authority to order the National Guard deployment for a period of 60 days, allowing the Secretary of Defense discretion regarding their continued presence. The situation became increasingly volatile as protests continued for a second day, with some demonstrators exhibiting violent behavior, throwing objects, and confronting law enforcement. Law enforcement officers, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, reported that crowd control measures were needed as they declared unlawful assembly during the protests. Separate instances of disorder prompted the use of non-lethal munitions by federal agents. Opponents of the deployment, including advocacy groups and local officials, have expressed concern that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes, further indicating a decline in public trust. Discussions about the legality of Trump’s actions highlighted uncertainty regarding the extent to which a president can activate National Guard troops without the state governor's approval. Amidst this, local leaders called for peaceful demonstrations and criticized both the immigration raids and the federal response.