Trump sends 2,000 troops to LA as protesters tear gassed in violent clashes with cops over immigration crackdown
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has ordered 2,000 National Guard troops into Los Angeles as federal immigration raids erupted into chaos.
It prompted violent street clashes between protesters and law enforcement on Saturday night in an explosive showdown over immigration enforcement.
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Law enforcement stand during a protest in Compton, California
Credit: AP
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A demonstrator waves a Mexican national flag next to a car on fire during a protest following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles
Credit: AFP
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Law enforcement clashes with demonstrators during a protest following federal immigration operations
Credit: AFP
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Protesters demonstrating against operations conducted by federal immigration authorities clash with law enforcement officials in Compton
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that "active duty Marines" are on "high alert", ready to mobilize from Camp Pendleton if the violence continues.
The dramatic escalation came after demonstrators hurled flaming projectiles, set cars ablaze, and swarmed federal vehicles in response to ICE raids targeting undocumented migrants.
Threatening to send in the Marines, Hegseth wrote on X: 'The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil… and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.'
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