Tear Gas, Clashes in Los Angeles as Trump Deploys National Guard Over Immigration Raids

Protests erupt across LA, especially in Latino neighborhoods, after federal immigration sweeps and National Guard deployment spark outrage. Over 100 arrested; clashes intensify outside detention centers.

Los Angeles | June 9, 2025 —
Tensions exploded across Los Angeles over the weekend as protests against sweeping immigration raids escalated dramatically, prompting law enforcement to fire tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs at demonstrators. The unrest peaked Sunday outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where hundreds rallied against President Donald Trump’s controversial deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the city.

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The protests began downtown on Friday, rapidly spreading to Latino-majority neighborhoods like Paramount and Compton, areas reportedly targeted in the federal immigration operation. By Sunday afternoon, at least three large-scale protests had broken out across the city, drawing clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

What Sparked the Protests?

The trigger was a massive federal immigration crackdown that began late Friday, part of Trump’s promised “largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.” Reports from ICE indicate that over 100 arrests were made in Los Angeles in just a few days, though the final number remains unconfirmed.

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Crowds gathered outside federal buildings and in areas where Border Patrol and ICE agents were reportedly active, including near a Home Depot in Paramount. In one incident, protesters tried to block Border Patrol vehicles and were met with riot gear, pepper balls, and flash grenades.

National Guard Deployment Fuels Outrage

President Trump invoked a rare legal provision to federalize California’s National Guard, overriding Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority, and sending 2,000 troops under the control of U.S. Northern Command for a 60-day deployment.

“This is a serious breach of state sovereignty,” wrote Newsom in a scathing letter to Trump, accusing the federal government of “sowing chaos” for political gain.

Trump, however, claimed the deployment was necessary due to what he called “Democratic failure to control an uprising against lawful immigration enforcement.”

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even hinted at deploying Marines from Camp Pendleton if protests worsen—an idea Newsom labeled “deranged.”

Protesters, Police, and Public Response

On Sunday, demonstrators gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, chanting “Shame!” and “Go Home!” at National Guard personnel in riot gear. Protesters accused authorities of using military force to intimidate civilians, many of whom are immigrants or from marginalized communities.

The LAPD, while present at protest sites, reiterated that it is not participating in civil immigration enforcement and would not detain individuals based solely on immigration status.

Still, tensions boiled over. Some protesters threw bottles and stones, prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly and use tear gas and rubber bullets for crowd control. Several protestors were detained, including a prominent union leader, charged with obstructing federal operations.

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As protests continue to ripple across Southern California, activists warn that civil liberties and state rights are under threat. More demonstrations are expected this week as legal challenges to the National Guard’s deployment gather momentum.

Tags:
Trump immigration raids, Los Angeles protests, National Guard LA, Gavin Newsom, ICE raids, LAPD, Latino communities, tear gas LA, US immigration crisis, federal-state conflict