National Guard troops have started to deploy in Los Angeles following an order from US President Donald Trump, in response to recent protests against federal immigration actions. These demonstrations, which have escalated in intensity, involved clashes between federal agents and protesters opposing deportations.
On Sunday morning, members of California’s National Guard commenced staging at a federal complex that includes the Metropolitan Detention Centre, a focal point for recent disturbances involving large crowds. Among the deployed were members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as confirmed by a Department of Defence social media update that featured armed troops and armoured vehicles.
The initial deployment was confined to a specific area of downtown Los Angeles, where the protests had primarily unfolded. While tensions increased due to confrontations that occurred near a local Home Depot, where protesters attempted to block Border Patrol operations, the rest of Los Angeles remained largely unaffected. Over the past week, federal immigration authorities have arrested over 100 individuals, contributing to the unrest.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem articulated that the National Guard’s presence was intended to maintain peace while allowing citizens the right to protest. However, the situation could escalate, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicating a willingness to deploy active-duty Marines if violence persists.
This deployment marks a significant move, happening without the request of Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who has decried Trump’s actions as provocatively inflammatory and labelled the threat to send Marines as “deranged behaviour.” Protests erupted fiercely in places like Paramount and Compton, where one incident involved a vehicle being set ablaze.
Continuing unrest in Paramount saw hundreds of demonstrators gather, resulting in local police declaring unlawful assemblies and making arrests. Demonstrations also resumed in downtown Los Angeles, where tensions between police and protestors remained high, exacerbated by the visible presence of law enforcement and barbed wire used to control crowds.
The current climate reflects a significant escalation in tensions surrounding immigration policy and the federal government’s approach to enforcement, raising questions about civil rights and public safety in heavily impacted communities.