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By Martha Kelner, US correspondent

This is the third day of protests against Donald Trump's immigration policy, but a very clear ratcheting up of the situation here today.

That's because the National Guard has arrived on the streets at the behest of President Donald Trump.

There are 2,000 military members on the way to Los Angeles, he says, to stamp out these immigration protests.

But this is in direct opposition to the wishes of the governor of California, Gavin Newsom.

He says that Donald Trump, deploying the National Guard on the streets here, is attempting to rile up these protesters to escalate this situation further.

Where I am at the moment is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre,

There are still people being held in the basement of this detention centre who were detained during immigration raids over the past few days.

ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was going to workplaces across the city, rounding up people who they claim are illegal immigrants, some of them are being held here and that's why you see the protesters demanding their release.

You may also be wondering why I'm wearing this big gas mask.

That's because just over half an hour ago, these National Guard members, members of the military, deployed tear gas and rubber bullets into this crowd, sending protesters scattering.

You can see there is a very clear anger here.

 Here are the latest images from downtown Los Angeles, where protesters have clashed with the National Guard.

We've heard directly from Donald Trump for the first time since the National Guard arrived in Los Angeles earlier today.

He spoke, with Marco Rubio standing beside him, before leaving for a trip to Camp David.

The US president said officials who get in the way of immigration crackdowns could face charges, as he attacked the Democrats - the political battle a running theme of this - as well as vowing to have "troops everywhere".

This is the president doubling down on an idea first presented last night by his border czar Tom Homan.

He said: "The bar [for sending in Marines] is what I think it is, if we see danger to our country and to our citizens, we'll be very, very strong in terms of law and order.

"We're going to have troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country.

"We're not going to let our country be torn apart like it was under Biden.

"If officials stand in the way of law and order, yeah, they will face charges."

California governor Gavin Newsom has told Los Angeles residents to "stay calm" after small outbreaks of clashes.

Continuing the political battle going on parallel to the protests - see our 20.51 post - he tweeted the following:

The clash of big political personalities has been a running theme of these protests, as individuals look to centre a Republican vs Democrat battle.

There have been some clashes between protesters and authorities in downtown Los Angeles.

It took place where the National Guard is stationed outside a federal building - the Metropolitan Detention Centre.

In the last few minutes, they clashed with protesters gathered there.

Some tear gas was deployed and pepper balls were fired as well.

"We are the voice of those who cannot speak," protesters were heard shouting.

It seems relatively contained to the area for now.

Like much within Donald Trump's second administration, he's once again entering new territory.

We reported earlier, see our 19.05 post, that the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles came over the objections of California's governor Gavin Newsom.

This marks the first time in decades a state's national guard was activated without a request from its governor, according to the Brennan Centre for Justice.

The deployment, and the subsequent protests, pit a Democrat-run Los Angeles against Trump's Republican White House.

It also pits Trump himself against one of the better-known Democrats - Newsom.

The pair have traded barbs online, while there are fears of further unrest on the streets today.

Census data suggests a significant part of the LA population is Hispanic and foreign-born, while a hardline crackdown on undocumented immigration is a key part of Trump's second administration.

Some have suggested Trump has targeted the area to roll out his crackdown given its Democratic leanings.

NBC News political and national correspondent Jacob Soboroff also told Sky News how local law enforcement in the US "specifically and intentionally" don't engage in immigration enforcement efforts from the federal government.

Trump's efforts risk further straining relations by importing a new force onto the streets of LA to try and see through his goals.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has warned he is prepared to mobilise active-duty troops "if violence continues".

Hegseth said that Marines at the nearby Camp Pendleton were on "high alert".

"There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job. The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE," Hegseth said on Sunday, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which carried out the initial raids that were met with resistance.

Democratic congresswoman Nanette Barragan, whose California district includes Paramount, criticised the deployment of the National Guard.

She told CNN: "We don't need the help.

"This is him escalating it, causing tensions to rise. 

"It's only going to make things worse in a situation where people are already angry over immigration enforcement."

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has warned that Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard today is a "chaotic escalation".

She said it was the last thing people needed.

Read her full post on social media here:

Protesters are gathering in Los Angeles.

Pictured here, crowds are gathering in the Boyle Heights neighborhood.

NBC News, our US partner, reports they intend to march to downtown Los Angeles - where protests first began - and join a rally planned there for 2pm local time (10pm UK time).

Here are the latest images.