Trump sends National Guard to LA amid immigration protests
Amid chants of 'ICE out of Paramount,' protesters waved Mexican flags, burned American flags, and attempted to block enforcement vehicles. Some formed barricades using shopping carts and cement blocks, forcing authorities to shut parts of a nearby freeway.
The operation came after Friday's high-profile immigration raids across the city, which resulted in 118 arrests. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), among those detained were individuals with links to criminal organisations and others with prior convictions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched
Seeking Alpha
Read Now
Undo
'We Will Enforce the Law'
As tensions flared, federal officials doubled down. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned protesters on X, formerly Twitter, that 'you will not stop us or slow us down,' and vowed full prosecution for any interference.
— Sec_Noem (@Sec_Noem)
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons criticised city leaders for what he called a failure to maintain order. 'Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement,' he said.
Live Events
Tom Homan, Trump's border security advisor, told Fox News that the National Guard would be deployed Saturday night: 'We are making Los Angeles safer. Mayor Bass should be thanking us.'
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed multiple arrests and stated, 'You bring chaos, and we'll bring handcuffs. Law and order will prevail.'
— FBIDDBongino (@FBIDDBongino)
Streets become a battleground
On the ground in Paramount, the mood remained tense. Footage showed green-uniformed federal personnel lined across a boulevard as tear gas drifted through the air. Protesters wore respiratory masks and held signs reading 'No Human Being is Illegal.'
A woman shouted into a megaphone, 'ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are. You are not welcome here.'
Smoke rose from burning shrubbery and trash. In one incident, protesters surrounded a US Marshals Service bus, prompting further freeway closures.
Legal concerns and high-profile arrests
The raids also sparked alarm among immigrant advocacy groups. Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), said that legal representatives had been denied access to detainees on Friday. 'It's very worrying,' she said.
Federal agents also carried out operations at a clothing warehouse in the fashion district after a judge found probable cause of fraudulent documentation use by the employer.
Among those arrested during the protests was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union. Justice Department spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy confirmed Huerta's detention and upcoming court appearance. It was unclear whether Huerta had legal representation.
Senator Chuck Schumer demanded his release, citing a 'disturbing pattern of arresting and detaining American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.'
Polarised politics
President Donald Trump praised the crackdown and warned that the federal government would intervene if local authorities failed to control the situation. 'If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs… the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!' he posted on Truth Social.
Governor Gavin Newsom responded, warning that federal control over California's National Guard would escalate tensions. 'This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,' he said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids as attempts to 'sow terror' in one of America's most diverse cities.
'The tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city,' she said in a statement. 'We will not stand for this.'
Unrest and resistance continue
Protests erupted soon after Friday's immigration raids, which targeted sites including garment factories, warehouses, and day labourer pickup points near Home Depots.
Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and known immigration hardliner, described the scenes as 'an insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States.' On Saturday, he escalated his language, calling it a 'violent insurrection.'
Protester Ron Gochez, 44, addressed the crowd: 'Now they know that they cannot go to anywhere in this country where our people are, and try to kidnap our workers, our people — they cannot do that without an organised and fierce resistance.'
The protest movement appears set to grow, even as federal officials insist they will continue to carry out
immigration enforcement operations
. ICE has set a daily arrest goal of 3,000 under President Trump's second-term immigration push.
The suburb of Paramount, where the standoff took place, is 82% Hispanic or Latino, according to US Census data. Los Angeles remains one of the country's most immigrant-rich cities, with a large population of foreign-born residents.
The broader standoff pits federal immigration authorities under a Republican White House against a Democratic-led city government.
As tear gas clouds clear, the political divisions remain sharp—and the likelihood of continued confrontation grows by the hour.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
Mexico and Guatemala presidents meet face-to-face for the first time to talk key regional projects
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — From mounting cartel violence, border security and a mega project to extend a controversial train line across their borders, the presidents of Mexico and Guatemala talked common goals and concerns in their first face-to-face meeting on Friday. The two regional allies, who met in Guatemala's northern Peten region, agreed to strengthen coordination on migration, law enforcement and economic development. But top on the agenda for both was a proposal to extend the Mexican government's Maya Train from southern Mexico to Guatemala and Belize. The idea was first floated by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but was met with skepticism by Guatemala's Bernardo Arévalo. The Guatemalan leader has said he sees the economic potential of the project to the jungle region but remained adamant that the construction should not come with the kind of environmental damage that it inflicted in Mexico. The train, which currently runs in a rough loop around Mexico's southern peninsula, was López Obrador's mega-project, with the purpose to connect remote jungle and rural areas in Mexico's south. However, it has for years has fueled controversy and legal battles as it's sliced through large swaths of jungle and damaged a delicate cave system in Mexico that serves as the area's main source of water. Arévalo said after the meeting with Sheinbaum that extending the train "is a vision we share' but that the project must not encroach on any protected ecosystems in Guatemala, especially the dense jungles of Peten. He said there would also have to be careful environmental studies and the two presidents looked at an alternative proposal that would have the train loop instead of directly cut through the jungles of Guatemala and Belize. 'I've made it very clear at all times that the Maya Train will not pass through any protected area,' Arévalo said. His stand is a sharp contrast to that of López Obrador, who fast-tracked the train project without environmental studies. Sheinbaum and Arévalo also spoke about about mounting cartel violence along the Mexico-Guatemala border where the cartels have long fought over control of lucrative migratory routes. Earlier this week, a group of around 100 Mexicans fled across the border because of a burst of violence in their communities. Later Friday, Sheinbaum and Arévalo were to travel to Calakmul, in southern Mexico, and meet up with Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño to continue the talks. 'Today, Mexico and Guatemala are demonstrating the will of two sister nations, with governments committed to justice and their peoples, to move forward together toward a more dignified, equitable and free future,' Sheinbaum added.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
RSS' contribution to nation marks 'proud & golden chapter': PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday used the pulpit of Red Fort to lavish praise on RSS, saying that the Sangh's contribution to the nation marks a "proud and golden chapter". Speaking about the contributions of individuals and organisations to nation-building in his Independence Day address, he said: "Today, with great pride, I wish to mention one such institution. One hundred years ago, RSS was founded. These 100 years of service to the nation constitute a proud and golden chapter. With the resolve of nation-building through character-building, with the aim of serving Maa Bharati, the swayamsevaks have, for a century, dedicated their lives to the welfare of the motherland. " The remarks of the PM, himself a swayamsevak, eulogising the Sangh when it is seen as enjoying unprecedented influence, can only add zing to its ongoing centenary celebrations. PM also praised Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bhartiya Jan Sangh, as BJP was known in its original incarnation, who died in jail after being imprisoned for campaigning against Special Status for J&K. "The removal of the wall of Article 370 and the realisation of the mantra of 'One Nation, One Constitution' have been our true tribute to him," said Modi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Mixed Pink Salt With This - Now She Can't Stop Losing Weight Break The Weight Learn More Undo Although Sangh was invited to be a part of the Republic Day parade in 1963, this was, perhaps, the first instance of praise for the organisation which has defied bans, controversies and intense opposition from influential political and academic quarters to become one of the country's major influences and a challenge to the Nehruvian/ "liberal" version of nationalism and secularism. Interestingly, the high praise comes amid persisting speculation about a strain in Sangh's equations with BJP. Modi went the full distance in expressing his veneration for the organisation. "Today, from the ramparts of Red Fort, I salute all the swayamsevaks who have contributed to this century-long journey of national service, and the nation takes pride in the grand and dedicated journey of RSS, which will continue to inspire us," he said.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Illegal immigration orchestrated drive to change demography, says PM, announces counter-move
NEW DELHI: Airing concerns over infiltration and illegal immigration and their impact on national security and demographic character of border areas, PM Narendra Modi Friday announced the setting up of a 'high-powered demographic mission' to address these challenges. Elaborating on the decades-old problem of illegal immigration from across the international border, Modi said it is part of an orchestrated campaign to alter the nation's demography. "Illegal immigrants are snatching the livelihoods of young citizens. They are targeting our mothers and sisters and capturing lands of innocent tribals. This will not be tolerated," he said. "When there is a demographic change in border areas, it threatens national security. It compromises national integrity, sovereignty and progress and creates social tension. No country hands over its territory to illegal immigrants. It is our duty towards our forefathers, whose sacrifices brought us Independence, not to tolerate such acts," Modi said. He went on to announce the mission to address illegal immigration in a planned manner and within a time frame. Modi, during his Independence Day speech, also hailed the successful counter-operations against Left-wing extremists (LWE), saying tribal youths are now no longer misguided into picking up the gun. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like He is our only child, we cannot see him suffer. Help us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Stating that the number of districts under LWE influence is down to 20 from 125, the PM described the reclaiming of large tracts of tribal land from Maoists and saving of tribal youths from losing their lives to violent extremism, as a fitting tribute to tribal icon Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary. The first-ever govt initiative to address illegal immigration, which has over the decades seen alleged Bangladeshi settlers alter the demography of border areas in Assam, West Bengal and even Bihar and Jharkhand, with an exponential rise in Muslims as share of the population, comes even as opposition parties are up in arms against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, which requires electors registered after 2003 to submit proof of citizenship. The exercise has seen the exclusion of 65 lakh electors from the draft roll, including around 1.2 lakh who could not be traced. EC suspects these may be illegal immigrants. Dealing with illegal immigrants is a complex matter as the powers to detect and deport foreigners are delegated to states, and political and votebank considerations often keep those governed by opposition parties from taking any action. The demography mission may suggest ways to get around these challenges. On the Naxal front, Modi said there was a time when Bastar was identified with Naxalism, guns and bombs. "Today the same Bastar is seeing its youth participate with enthusiasm in the Bastar Olympics. The areas once known as 'Red Corridor' are now becoming 'green corridors' of development. Areas once marked by 'Red' terror on India's map now have the tricolour of the Constitution, law and development flying high," he said.
