On June 10, 2025, President Trump of the United States has authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to be stationed in Los Angeles to respond to local protests against immigration enforcement. This move has sparked strong opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the state government has filed a legal challenge against the federal government.
President Trump’s administration, starting Saturday night, ordered the mobilization of 2,000 California National Guard troops to be stationed in Los Angeles to assist in the protection of federal buildings and personnel.
On Monday, the White House authorized an additional 2,000 troops, bringing the total deployment to 4,000 troops. At the same time, the Department of Defense also mobilized approximately 700 Marine Corps personnel from the Twentynine Palms base in California as an interim support force in Los Angeles while waiting for more guard troops to arrive.
Despite the National Guard and Marine Corps troops being deployed to Los Angeles, their mission is limited to protecting federal buildings and personnel as President Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, thereby lacking the authority to make arrests or interfere with local law enforcement operations.
Governor Newsom noted that out of the initial 2,000 deployed guard troops, only about 300 were on active duty while the rest were “idling in federal buildings without orders.”
On Monday, Newsom, along with State Attorney General Rob Bonta, jointly filed a lawsuit against the federal government, seeking a court ruling that Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard is illegal and should be revoked.
Bonta pointed out that this action was taken without the consent or involvement of the governor, violating the U.S. Constitution and relevant provisions of the National Guard Act, without a legitimate basis in the current situation. He emphasized, “There is no invasion, there is no rebellion.”
This marks the first instance since 1965 of a president unilaterally deploying a state’s National Guard without the request of the state government. Bonta stated, “We are confident that we will prevail in this case.”
Last Friday, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency conducted raids in multiple locations in Los Angeles, leading to several days of protests. Over the weekend, protesters gathered outside federal facilities in downtown, tensions were high, and law enforcement used non-lethal weapons such as tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
According to a report released by the Los Angeles police on Monday, over 600 rounds of non-lethal ammunition were fired, resulting in the arrest of at least 50 individuals over Saturday and Sunday. Charges included attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail, attacking police officers, and looting, with 5 officers sustaining minor injuries.
During the demonstrations, David Huerta, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in California, was arrested on Friday for “obstructing” the passage of federal law enforcement vehicles and was granted a $50,000 bail after appearing in court on Monday.
The news of his arrest triggered strong protests from unions across California. On Monday afternoon, hundreds of supporters gathered in a park across from City Hall, chanting slogans like “Free Huerta now,” protesting the federal law enforcement actions.
At the demonstration, many attendees held signs saying “Immigrants make America great” and “We want justice,” displaying photos of the arrested workers. Perla Rios, a leader in the local indigenous community in Los Angeles, also spoke out, calling for legal assistance and due process for the detained immigrants.
“Our families are going through a nightmare,” she said.
On Sunday night, around 400 people gathered in San Francisco in solidarity with the anti-immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles. The demonstration escalated into a riot, with protesters vandalizing ICE offices, multiple municipal buses, shop windows, throwing objects at federal law enforcement vehicles, and setting ablaze Waymo self-driving cars.
According to Acting Police Chief Paul Yep, law enforcement deployed tear gas that night and engaged in physical confrontations with the protesters, resulting in the arrest of approximately 150 people, including 6 minors, with one facing felony assault charges. A firearm was confiscated by the police, and three officers were injured, with one requiring medical treatment.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie warned on Monday that if the conflicts persist, additional law enforcement personnel and emergency response teams will be dispatched to prevent further violence and property damage.
In response to public concerns, President Trump stated on social media on Monday that deploying the National Guard was the “right decision,” claiming that without timely intervention, “Los Angeles may have been completely destroyed.”
He also criticized Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, saying they should be grateful for the federal government’s intervention instead of lying to the public, alleging that the protests were “peaceful.”
“Just take a look at the photos and videos of the violence and destruction, and you will understand everything. We will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens so that we can work together to make America great again!” Trump said.
In response, Newsom fired back, accusing Trump of “illegally federalizing the National Guard, igniting conflict,” and warning that if left unchecked, similar actions could spread to other states.
Newsom also stated, “The President of the United States has just openly called for the arrest of a sitting governor, a day I never thought I would see in America.”
This incident has also caught the attention of politicians from both parties. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s actions as “unnecessary and provocative,” calling for the immediate withdrawal of the National Guard deployment and the return of law enforcement powers to state and local governments.
Republican Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina expressed support for Trump’s deployment decision, advocating for further federal takeover of local law enforcement.
“I believe the federal government should take over Los Angeles, dispatching the Marine Corps and the National Guard,” she stated. She characterized the current situation as an “invasion and rebellion,” saying, “I hope all of those there will be deported, thrown in jail… If you don’t like America, you can leave.”
Republican Representative Mike Collins from Georgia suggested that Congress should push for legislation to punish those who block interstate highways during protests. He said, “It’s time to hold accountable those who openly break the law.”
However, Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee Jamie Raskin criticized Trump’s actions, calling his mobilization of the National Guard “extremely rare” and noting that California’s lawsuit against the federal mobilization action is “very well-founded.”
He stated, “Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit in California is a very solid case.”