Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles turned chaotic over the weekend, leading to the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops by President Donald Trump, a move sharply criticised by Governor Gavin Newsom as an “unlawful” breach of state sovereignty.
The unrest, which began Friday, June 6, culminated in the closure of the 101 Freeway on Sunday, intensifying tensions between state and federal authorities.
The protests erupted in response to ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants across Los Angeles County, with 118 arrests reported, including individuals with prior convictions for drug trafficking and assault, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
On Friday, clashes between protesters and federal agents in downtown Los Angeles and the heavily Latino city of Paramount saw demonstrators block roads, hurl rocks, and set a car ablaze.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded with tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and less-lethal munitions to disperse crowds.
By Sunday, thousands of protesters had flooded downtown Los Angeles, with some blocking the 101 Freeway near Alameda Street around 3:40 p.m., halting traffic in both directions.
Demonstrators carried signs reading “Trump must go now!” and “No human is illegal,” while others vandalised Waymo self-driving cars, setting at least two on fire.
The LAPD declared the entire downtown area an unlawful assembly, arresting 10 people, while the CHP detained 17 others on the freeway.
President Trump, citing “violent mobs” attacking federal agents, signed a memorandum on Saturday to federalise the California National Guard under Title 10 authority, deploying 300 troops to Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton by Sunday morning.
Trump defended the move, stating on Truth Social that the protests were led by “troublemakers and insurrectionists” and demanded that Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass apologise for their handling of the situation.
He also alluded to potential further deployments, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that 500 Marines at Camp Pendleton were on “high alert”.
Governor Newsom condemned the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty”, arguing that local law enforcement had the situation under control.
In a letter to Hegseth, Newsom formally requested the troops’ withdrawal, stating, “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved.”
He accused the administration of “manufacturing chaos” to justify escalation, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Bass, who called the deployment an “intentional effort to sow chaos” amid the city’s recovery from recent wildfires. Newsom also threatened legal action, labelling the move “illegal” and “immoral”.
Local leaders, including Representative Nanette Barragán and Senator Alex Padilla, criticised the heavy-handed federal tactics, with Barragán warning of a month-long ICE presence in California.
Immigrant rights groups, such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, rallied against the raids, with protesters like Ron Gochez vowing “fierce resistance” to protect communities.
The arrest of SEIU California president David Huerta during Friday’s protests further fuelled outrage, with Newsom calling him a “respected leader” unjustly detained.
Tensions remain high as protests continue, with organisers calling for further demonstrations. The LAPD has urged residents to avoid downtown areas, and the 101 Freeway’s southbound lanes remain closed due to debris and damaged vehicles.
