PARAMOUNT, Calif. — President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom. The deployment comes in response to ongoing protests that erupted after immigration authorities conducted raids in the area. The White House stated that the Guardsmen are being sent to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester” in California.

Governor Newsom, a Democrat, criticized the move, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and warning that it would only escalate tensions. He expressed that local authorities are capable of managing the situation without federal intervention. “This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom said in a post on X.

The protests began on Friday night and continued into Saturday, with demonstrators clashing with Border Patrol personnel in riot gear. Tear gas filled the air as protesters gathered in the Paramount area, where many displayed signs and chanted against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One protester shouted through a megaphone, “ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are. You are not welcome here.”

The situation intensified as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to mobilize active-duty Marines if violence continued. “If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” Hegseth stated.

Trump’s decision to federalize part of California’s National Guard under Title 10 authority means he is now in command, bypassing the governor. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the deployment, stating that the actions of immigration authorities are “essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States.”

The protests were sparked by ICE operations that resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants, including individuals linked to criminal organizations. Advocates for immigrant rights reported that detentions occurred outside various locations, including Home Depot stores and a doughnut shop. Following the arrests, protesters gathered outside a federal detention center, chanting, “Set them free, let them stay!”

Among those arrested during the protests was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, with a court appearance scheduled for Monday. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Huerta’s immediate release, citing a “disturbing pattern of arresting and detaining American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.”

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles condemned the immigration raids, stating that they sow terror in the community. “I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” Bass said. In response, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons criticized Bass, claiming she sided with chaos over law enforcement. “Make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens,” Lyons asserted.

The protests reflect a broader conflict between the Democratic leadership in Los Angeles and Trump’s administration, which has made immigration enforcement a key focus. As tensions rise, the deployment of the National Guard marks a significant escalation in the federal response to the protests.