US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell escalating unrest linked to ongoing federal immigration raids, igniting a political clash with California Governor Gavin Newsom. The unrest began late Friday and continued into Sunday, with demonstrations erupting in areas such as Paramount, where over 80 per cent of the population is Latino, and near the Metropolitan Detention Centre in downtown Los Angeles.

Protesters opposed to ICE’s recent sweeps, which led to the detention of at least 118 suspected undocumented immigrants, blocked streets, threw projectiles, and confronted federal agents. Despite the rising tensions, reports indicate the protests were limited in scale. Rachel Uranga, an immigration reporter for the Los Angeles Times, told the BBC the demonstrations involved “a couple of hundred people in certain locations,” and were not widespread throughout the city.

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Trump Overrides Governor Newsom's Authority

Trump’s decision to take federal command of California’s National Guard forces bypasses typical state authority. Governors customarily oversee their own Guard units, but Trump invoked federal emergency powers, citing what he described as an “invasion of illegal criminals.” The White House also accused California’s Democratic leadership of being “feckless” and obstructing national efforts to restore immigration law and order.

Governor Newsom pushed back sharply, denouncing the move as “purposefully inflammatory” and accusing the Trump administration of sowing chaos for political optics. “This is about creating a spectacle,” Newsom said, calling the immigration sweeps “chaotic” and warning the public not to respond with violence. Tensions further escalated when US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested deploying active-duty Marines to suppress protests in Los Angeles. 

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Clashes Escalate In Paramount And Downtown LA

On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported detaining several protesters near the detention centre after issuing multiple dispersal orders. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said demonstrators in Paramount hurled fireworks and other objects at law enforcement, prompting officers to respond with tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper balls. Scenes of burning refuse, damaged vehicles, and skirmish lines highlighted the growing hostility between protesters and federal forces.