LOS ANGELES: Tensions flared in Los Angeles for a third consecutive day on Sunday as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement and set vehicles ablaze, following President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to the city in response to controversial immigration raids.
The protests erupted after federal immigration officials conducted high-profile daytime raids targeting individuals believed to be undocumented immigrants and gang members. These actions sparked strong backlash in the city, home to a large Latino population, and are seen by critics as part of Trump’s broader campaign to crack down on illegal immigration ahead of the upcoming election.
Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment of California’s National Guard, calling it a violation of state authority. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed,” he posted on social media, demanding that federal control be withdrawn.
Protesters set fire to three self-driving Waymo vehicles and vandalized others in the city’s downtown area. A key freeway was blocked for over an hour before being cleared by California Highway Patrol using flashbangs and smoke grenades.
While a minor confrontation took place between federal agents and demonstrators near a detention center, the majority of clashes involved local police, who formed perimeter lines to separate crowds from armed National Guard troops of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump stood firm on the troop deployment, warning of further military mobilization across the country if unrest continues. “You’re going to see some very strong law and order,” he said, hinting at possible use of the Insurrection Act to permit broader military action on domestic soil.
U.S. Northern Command confirmed that approximately 500 Marines are on standby for possible support in federal operations.
Critics argue this is the first time since 1965 that a sitting president has overridden a governor’s authority to deploy National Guard troops during civil unrest. Among them was Vice President Kamala Harris, who denounced the move as “a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos.”
However, Republican lawmakers backed Trump, with House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissing the criticism as misplaced, blaming Newsom for failing to maintain control.
On the streets, many demonstrators saw the military presence as an intimidation tactic. “These protests have been peaceful,” said Thomas Henning, a protester. “There’s no need for troops with loaded weapons trying to scare people away from their constitutional rights.”
Estrella Corral, another protester, said the raids targeted law-abiding immigrants, adding, “Trump is using the National Guard to create a spectacle and advance his political goals.”
Marshall Goldberg, 78, described the deployment as an attack on civil liberties. “This goes beyond immigration — it’s about silencing public dissent.”
While similar immigration raids in other U.S. cities have sparked minor protests, the unrest in Los Angeles represents the most visible and sustained resistance to Trump’s immigration agenda to date.
A CBS News poll, conducted prior to the protests, found a slim majority of Americans still in favor of the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
