What started as protests quickly spiraled into chaos across parts of Los Angeles — and now, troops are on the ground.
After several days of unrest tied to President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement push, the National Guard has officially been deployed to the city, marking a tense new chapter in what many are calling a dangerous political standoff.
Troops Seen in Downtown LA Ahead of More Planned Demonstrations
Photos and footage circulating online Sunday morning showed National Guard troops arriving in downtown Los Angeles, just hours before a large protest was expected to take place near City Hall.
President Trump, despite congratulating them earlier in the day, had actually praised the Guard before their boots even hit the ground — a move that raised eyebrows.
So far, their presence is limited to specific hotspots downtown, with the majority of the sprawling city of 4 million still relatively calm.
But the symbolism of armed soldiers patrolling LA streets is hard to ignore.
Protests Begin in Downtown and Spread Across South LA
The unrest first kicked off on Friday in downtown LA, but it didn’t take long to spread.
By Saturday, Paramount and nearby Compton were swept up in the action, with protestors clashing with federal authorities and local police.
In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning: the Marines were on high alert, and the government wasn’t ruling out a stronger response if things escalated further.
Homeland Security and Federal Officials Promise Law and Order
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in, emphasizing the Guard’s role in protecting peaceful protests while ensuring things didn’t tip into violence.
She promised that the troops would help “keep peace” while allowing Americans to exercise their right to protest — though the armored vehicles and long guns they arrived with told a more forceful story.
Troops from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were seen holding positions downtown, part of what the Pentagon described as a measured show of strength.
Governor Newsom Pushes Back Against Trump’s “Show of Force”
California Governor Gavin Newsom wasn’t on board with the federal response.
After a lengthy phone call with Trump on Friday night, Newsom later described the deployment as a “provocative show of force” that risked making things worse.
He didn’t hold back when addressing the threat of Marines being sent in, calling it “deranged behavior” that could inflame tensions rather than ease them.
LAPD Warns Protesters About “Non-Lethal” Weapons
By Saturday night, the LAPD was bracing for another rough evening, issuing warnings on social media that non-lethal munitions had been authorized.
Central Division officers made it clear: anyone staying in the protest zones risked being hit with crowd control weapons, which could cause serious discomfort or injury.
The city prepared for what looked like another showdown.
Rioters Set Fires and Face Off With Federal Agents in Paramount
Things got especially heated in Paramount, where a Home Depot staging area used by immigration officials turned into a flashpoint.
Protesters gathered outside and were met by federal agents in riot gear, who responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades.
The crowd was warned — in both Spanish and English — to disperse.
Some responded by lighting fires, waving Mexican flags, and even burning a U.S. flag.
Makeshift barricades, including shopping carts and concrete blocks, were set up in the streets.
ICE and Homeland Security Claim Dozens of Arrests
Federal officials say this wasn’t just about protests — they described it as a crackdown on dangerous individuals.
According to Tom Homan, Trump’s point man on immigration, many of those arrested were more than just demonstrators.
He told Fox News that arrests included gang members, child sex offenders, and others considered national security threats.
“We’re making Los Angeles safer,” he said, adding that ICE agents were even wearing masks to protect their families from being doxxed.
Protesters Swarm Federal Vehicles and Shut Down Freeways
Tensions exploded Saturday afternoon when a U.S. Marshals Service bus attempted to leave the area — and was quickly surrounded by protesters.
Authorities responded by shutting down freeway on- and off-ramps, trying to keep the demonstrators from taking over the roads.
In the middle of the chaos, a Border Patrol vehicle was kicked, shrubbery and trash were set ablaze, and thick clouds of smoke filled the air.
Immigration Crackdown Continues as DHS Reports Over 100 Arrests
According to a new statement from the Department of Homeland Security, recent ICE operations in Los Angeles led to the arrest of 118 undocumented immigrants.
It’s all part of President Trump’s renewed push to enforce immigration laws more aggressively, even if that means bringing in the National Guard and potentially the Marines.
With tensions still running high and protests expected to continue, Los Angeles finds itself at the center of a national political battle — one that’s only growing more intense by the day.