Federal Troops and Border Czar Stir Controversy in Los Angeles Protests

Violence erupted throughout Los Angeles over the weekend as federal immigration sweeps at workplaces, including one at a Home Depot in Paramount, sparked mass demonstrations. ICE officers employed flash-bang grenades and pepper balls against chanting "ICE go home" mobs, while protesters threw rocks and set vehicles ablaze, injuring many on both sides.

In response to two nights of rioting, President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops into the city—a unprecedented step without the governor's permission—stationing them around federal facilities and protest zones. On television, the administration's "border czar" announced the Guard's deployment and threatened local officials with potential legal consequences if they interfere with federal activities.

California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the move as "purposefully inflammatory" and unlawful, insisting that state and local authorities were already addressing public safety. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass seconded a call to be vigilant, decrying both the raids and the escalation that would traumatize immigrant communities.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Camp Pendleton Marines were ready in case the violence continued, and Homeland Security authorities defended the mission as necessary to protect federal property and workers. The confrontations have highlighted profound differences between Democratic local officials and the Republican White House over immigration enforcement and the rightful use of military force on American streets.