California Governor Calls Trump National Guard Deployment Unlawful Amid LA Immigration Protests

Mass protests erupted in Los Angeles following aggressive immigration raids by federal agents under President Donald Trump's administration, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. In response to escalating unrest, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, a move opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the deployment unlawful and accused Trump of manufacturing a crisis and violating state sovereignty. Protesters blocked freeways, set vehicles ablaze, and faced off against federal agents who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, with some arrests made amid accusations of protesters throwing objects at police. Trump threatened further military intervention, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that active-duty Marines were on high alert, though the Insurrection Act had not yet been invoked. Vice President J.D. Vance and other Trump aides characterized the protests as insurrectionist violence, while local leaders and unions condemned the federal actions and called for resistance. The situation highlighted deep tensions between federal immigration enforcement policies and California’s Democratic leadership, fueling ongoing national debate over immigration and state-federal relations.