Los Angeles protests: What is the role of the US National Guard—and how is it deployed?
Tensions flared across Los Angeles on Sunday as thousands of protesters flooded the streets in response to President Donald Trump's controversial deployment of the National Guard. Demonstrators blocked major highways and set self-driving vehicles ablaze while law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to disperse the crowds.
As night fell, police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, paving the way for arrests. Some demonstrators pelted California Highway Patrol officers with concrete, rocks, scooters, and fireworks along the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers were seen taking cover under an overpass amid the chaos.
Sunday marked the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump's immigration crackdown in Southern California. Public outrage intensified after around 300 National Guard troops arrived in the city. Their deployment focused primarily on protecting federal buildings, including the downtown detention center that became a protest focal point.
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What Is the U.S. National Guard?
The U.S. National Guard is a crucial component of the Armed Forces Reserve, operating under both state and federal authority. Established by the Militia Act of 1903, the Guard comprises two branches: the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
As of 2023, the Guard includes roughly 419,000 reservists, with about 9,500 stationed in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
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Service in the National Guard is open to U.S. citizens who meet physical, mental, and legal requirements. Many members serve part-time while pursuing civilian careers, although full-time positions are available. Former active-duty soldiers can transition into the Guard, usually without additional training, while new recruits undergo standard military training at designated facilities.
In exchange for their service, Guard members receive various benefits, including monthly pay (typically $200 to $600 per weekend, depending on rank), housing and meal allowances, educational assistance, healthcare coverage, and long-term pension eligibility.
What Does the National Guard Do?
The National Guard plays a dual role, supporting both domestic crisis response and international military operations. Control over Guard units depends on the nature of the deployment: state governors command them during in-state missions, while the President assumes control for national or overseas mobilizations.
Domestically, the Guard has been instrumental during major emergencies:
Hurricane Katrina (2005): Over 50,000 troops aided in evacuations, rescues, and restoring order in New Orleans.
Capitol Riot (January 2021): More than 25,000 Guard members were deployed to secure Washington, D.C., during President Joe Biden's inauguration.
George Floyd Protests (2020): Thousands were mobilized across states to support overwhelmed local law enforcement.
Abroad, the National Guard has contributed significantly to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, often supplementing active-duty forces. Although most members serve part-time (typically one weekend a month and two weeks a year), they are fully trained and prepared for active-duty deployment when required.
Who Can Deploy the National Guard—and Why?
Under normal conditions, state governors request the activation of the National Guard for local emergencies. However, President Donald Trump bypassed this process in Los Angeles by invoking a rarely used provision—10 U.S.C. §12406—that allows the President to federalize the Guard under specific circumstances:
If the U.S. is invaded or threatened with invasion by a foreign nation,
If a rebellion or threat of rebellion exists against the government,
If regular military forces are insufficient to enforce federal laws.
In his directive, Trump argued that the protests in Los Angeles constituted 'a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States,' thereby justifying the federal takeover of the National Guard.
However, the Guard's role in Los Angeles remains limited. Troops are there only to protect federal personnel—such as agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security—as they carry out their duties. They are not authorized to conduct immigration raids or routine law enforcement against civilians.
Federal law—namely the Posse Comitatus Act—restricts the use of military forces for civilian law enforcement, except under special conditions like those outlined in the Insurrection Act. Although Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, he has not done so in this instance.
Why This Deployment Is Controversial
Legal experts point out that this marks the first time since 1965, during the height of the civil rights movement, that a president has federalized the National Guard without a governor's request. The move has reignited a debate over the balance of power between state and federal governments when it comes to military authority on U.S. soil.
The deployment drew strong criticism from Democratic leaders, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who called it 'a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos.'
As protests continue in Los Angeles, the presence of federally commanded troops remains a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation around immigration, policing, and federal overreach.
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