U.S. President Donald Trump has described Los Angeles as “invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals,” following days of immigration raids and escalating protests in the city.
On Sunday, National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles despite strong objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned the move as a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which Newsom also shared on social media platform X, the governor demanded the order be rescinded.
> “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom wrote. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
The White House announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guardsmen on Saturday, citing the need to address “lawlessness” in the city. According to The New York Times, it is the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent — the last being in 1965 during the civil rights movement in Alabama.
The protests erupted on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted mass immigration raids across Los Angeles, part of President Trump’s push for widespread deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Governor Newsom urged protesters to remain peaceful and warned them not to give federal forces an excuse to escalate.
> “Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis in LA County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos,” Newsom said on X. “Don’t take the bait. Never use violence or harm law enforcement.”
Despite official warnings, protests continued into Sunday. Los Angeles Police Department reported that demonstrators blocked freeway traffic and gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where troops had formed a perimeter.
Authorities said some protesters threw bottles, concrete, and other objects. Vehicles were also set on fire.
> “Arrests are being initiated,” LAPD stated on X.
According to the U.S. Northern Command, approximately 300 National Guard soldiers were deployed to three locations in the greater Los Angeles area to “ensure the safety of federal property and personnel.”
On Truth Social, Trump doubled down on his rhetoric:
> “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.”
He vowed to “liberate Los Angeles from the migrant invasion,” and said federal officials were directed “to take all such action necessary.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the deployment of federal troops.
> “Deploying federalized troops on the heels of these raids is a chaotic escalation,” she posted on X. “The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real… This is the last thing our city needs.”
The Trump administration has also hinted at the potential use of active-duty U.S. military forces — a rare and controversial step. Defense Secretary Hegseth said U.S. Marines stationed in California may be mobilized if needed.
> “There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job,” he said.
Roughly 500 Marines are reportedly on standby, prepared for possible deployment, according to U.S. Northern Command.
