National Guard troops sent by Trump to quell immigration protests reach Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES: Hundreds of National Guard troops took up positions in Los Angeles Sunday on US President Donald Trump's orders, a rare deployment against the state governor's wishes after sometimes violent protests against immigration enforcement raids.
The US military said 300 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had been sent to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, and were "conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel."
Helmeted troops in camouflage gear and carrying automatic weapons could be seen in front of a federal complex -- including a detention center -- with the phrase "Our City" spray-painted on it in downtown Los Angeles.
The deployment overrode the protests of local officials, an extraordinary move not seen in decades and deemed "purposefully inflammatory" by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
It came ahead of more planned protests in the city, which has a large Latino population, including a call by organizers for a "mass mobilization" at City Hall at 2:00 pm local time (2100 GMT).
"Trump is sending 2,000 National Guard troops into LA County -- not to meet an unmet need, but to manufacture a crisis," Newsom posted on X Sunday.
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Mint
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Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Police make 'mass arrests' in Los Angeles during nighttime curfew
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First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
Why are LA protesters waving the Mexican flag?
As immigration protests grip Los Angeles following ICE raids and a federal troop deployment, the Mexican flag has emerged as a powerful and controversial symbol. Seen across rallies in LA County, the flag reflects cultural pride for some and raises political alarm for others. Why has it become central to this latest wave of demonstrations? read more A man skates holding a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from burning vehicles during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, near Los Angeles City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters As protests erupted across Los Angeles following a controversial string of ICE raids and the federal government's deployment of troops, one symbol stood out prominently amid the marches, rallies, and clashes: the green, white, and red Mexican flag. From downtown LA to surrounding cities like Compton and Paramount, demonstrators have carried the Mexican flag alongside American and other Latin American banners. How the Mexican flag is being used at LA protests Tensions in Los Angeles reached a boiling point after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted sweeping raids last week in the city's garment district. The operation resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants, according to federal authorities. The crackdown sparked an immediate wave of protests across various parts of LA, including the city center, Compton, and Paramount. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While many protests began peacefully, scenes of confrontation and civil unrest soon followed. Protesters voiced opposition to what they described as an indiscriminate assault on immigrant communities. Amid the chaos, many carried flags — chiefly the Mexican flag — as a gesture of solidarity and cultural pride. The Trump administration responded to the unrest by deploying approximately 2,000 National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, a decision that inflamed tensions further. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed strong opposition to the federal deployment, publicly denouncing it as a violation of California's authority. In a post on X, he stated: 'I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command… We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.' The growing presence of law enforcement and military personnel only heightened public anger, leading to more clashes and dozens of arrests in ensuing days. Meanwhile, social media posts from officials and media coverage began to focus on one vivid and recurring image: the Mexican flag flying amid smoke, police lines and protest chants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why the Mexican flag For many demonstrators, waving the Mexican flag is neither an act of rebellion nor foreign interference — it is a symbol of identity, belonging and solidarity. Los Angeles County is home to over 3.4 million residents of Mexican heritage or birth, the largest such population in any US county. According to 2023 US Census estimates, approximately 4.8 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin live in LA County, comprising 48 per cent of the population. Among them, about 74 per cent are of Mexican descent. The flag's appearance in protests is thus rooted in demographic and cultural realities. Protesters have not only carried the Mexican flag but also the flags of other Latin American countries and the United States. A man waves a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from a burning vehicle during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, near Los Angeles City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters In some cases, hybrid flags combining national symbols have appeared as well. Elizabeth Torres, 36, who protested outside a detention centre in downtown LA, articulated the dual sentiments of cultural heritage and civic pride when she told The New York Times: 'I am a very proud American. But I have to show support also for our Mexican brothers and sisters.' In the eyes of participants like Torres, the flag represents more than a nation — it's a gesture of inclusion, a reminder of familial roots, and a protest against what they see as unjust immigration enforcement practices targeting communities like theirs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Trump is seeing the 'foreign flags' While many demonstrators see the flag as a celebration of identity, the Trump administration has interpreted it as a political provocation. The visibility of foreign flags — especially the Mexican one — became a talking point for top officials who characterized the protests as a threat to national sovereignty and law enforcement. Vice President JD Vance posted on X: 'Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers.' Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, echoed similar sentiments in a widely circulated social media post: 'Foreign nationals, waving foreign flags, rioting and obstructing federal law enforcement attempting to expel illegal foreign invaders.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, sharing a photo of a protester waving the Mexican flag and declaring: 'The riots in Los Angeles prove that we desperately need more immigration enforcement personnel and resources. America must reverse the invasion unleashed by Joe Biden of millions of unvetted illegal aliens into our country.' The Department of Homeland Security released multiple images and videos featuring the Mexican flag during protests, reinforcing a narrative that equates the protests with foreign interference and lawlessness. However, legal experts and academics have pushed back on these claims, emphasizing the legality and precedent behind flag-waving in protest contexts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, an associate professor of Chicana, Chicano and Central American Studies at UCLA, told CNN: 'Waving a foreign flag – or even destroying an American one – is legal under freedom of expression rights protected by the Constitution's First Amendment.' He also pointed out that the Trump administration's reaction to the flag is part of a broader strategy to delegitimise dissent by focusing on visual symbols: 'Invoking flags to demonise protesters is a well-documented move on the part of the Trump administration, knowing that every single demonstration of this type brings out the Mexican flag.' What history tell us The current Mexican flag was officially adopted in 1968, though earlier versions date back to the early 19th century during Mexico's war for independence from Spain. In Mexico, the use of the flag is strictly regulated by law — it can only be displayed during patriotic ceremonies, official events, or under specific conditions at schools and sports functions. In the US, however, the flag has long played a role in immigrant rights demonstrations. Its use at protests became particularly prominent in 1994, during resistance to California's Proposition 187. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That controversial measure sought to deny undocumented immigrants access to public services like education and healthcare. The flag was used by demonstrators at the time to assert pride in their heritage and defy exclusionary policies. Former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda contextualised the flag's symbolism during a recent interview with CNN: 'This is something that goes back, actually, to the 1990s, when many people protested against Proposition 187 at the time. And then also the early 2000s when demonstrations all over the United States took place against several laws that were being implemented then on immigration.' Castañeda noted that while the flag is once again central to protest visuals, most of those carrying it are likely US citizens. 'Practically all of the demonstrators, all of the protesters, are American citizens,' he said. 'You would have to be quite reckless and foolish to be a Mexican citizen without papers, or even as a legal permanent resident, to go out and demonstrate today in these protests because you would most likely be arrested and deported, even if you're a legal permanent resident and certainly if you have no papers.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While critics argue that the use of foreign flags can undermine the effectiveness of a protest by appearing unpatriotic, many in Los Angeles view the flag as a deeply personal symbol. For them, it serves not to reject America but to advocate for a more inclusive version of it. How waving foreign flags in US is not new Waving foreign flags during US demonstrations is not unique to these events. Public celebrations, parades, and political rallies across the United States frequently feature foreign flags without controversy. Puerto Rican flags were widely flown during New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade. Irish flags are a staple of St. Patrick's Day celebrations. In various urban enclaves, such as Little Italy or Koreatown, national banners proudly decorate businesses and neighbourhoods. What makes the Mexican flag's use controversial in this moment is the political context. As the Trump administration accelerates efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, invoke the Alien Enemies Act, and implement stricter immigration enforcement measures, any sign of cultural pride among immigrant communities has become a lightning rod for criticism. The administration insists it is targeting 'the worst of the worst' in its enforcement push, but immigration advocates argue that ordinary families, workers, and community members are being swept up in these operations without just cause. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
