U.S. President Trump mobilized the National Guard after rioters attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents arresting illegal aliens in Los Angeles, leading to escalating riots characterized by rock throwing at officers and setting off fires.
The riots began on Friday following immigration raids by ICE agents. The operations in Los Angeles resulted in the arrest of 118 illegal aliens, including five gang members and individuals with prior criminal histories.
Over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building in Los Angeles and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and damaged taxpayer-funded property. The Los Angeles Police Department(LAPD) took over two hours to respond to the situation.
Tensions escalated further on Saturday with confrontations between rioters and law enforcement, involving the use of flash-bangs and irritants by police, and incidents of vandalism and arson by protesters.
Rioters set fires and damaged property in various locations, including downtown Los Angeles and the cities of Paramount and Compton.
Some rioters chanting "Fuera ICE" ("ICE, get out") and waving Mexican flags, threw rocks at law enforcement, and several cars were set on fire, while others were vandalized. Additionally, a large bag of trash was lit on fire near immigration agents in the Paramount section of the city, which is approximately 82 percent Latino.
The violence continued Sunday.
In response to these events, President Trump activated the National Guard under Title 10 authority, placing the troops under federal command rather than invoking the Insurrection Act. Approximately 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles to address the unrest.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that if the protests continued, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton would also be mobilized, stating that violence against federal law enforcement would not be tolerated. Around 300 National Guard troops stationed outside a federal complex.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, criticized rioters for assaulting federal officers and disrupting immigration operations.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security criticized Democrat politicians for contributing to the surge in assaults on ICE officers through their rhetoric.
The Mexican flag-waving rioters have been condemned by many online who call the violence against authorities, an invasion. "If you love Mexico that much, wtf are you not self-deporting to Mexico," one X user wrote.
Disgraced left-wing California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass who condemned the ICE raids as sowing terror and disrupting community safety, are facing widespread criticisms for ordering the LAPD to stand down while rioters destroy properties, cars, and attack federal agents.
The LAPD denied allegations that it delayed its response to the protests, citing the use of chemical irritants by federal authorities as a reason for the delay.
Far-left union leader David Huerta the president of SEIU California, was arrested during the riots for allegedly impeding a federal agent while protesting.
"A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve," Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. "I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
