What we know about the Los Angeles immigration raids and protests
Demonstrations broke out in southern California after federal agents carried out raids across Los Angeles, arresting more than a hundred suspected illegal immigrants.
Tuesday 10 June 2025 10:20, UK
Tensions in Los Angeles have escalated after Donald Trump deployed troops to tackle protests against his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
At least 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to LA by Mr Trump on 7 June, who did so without consulting California governor Gavin Newsom - which is usually customary for presidents.
The National Guard is part of the US military's reserve force. It typically responds to federal missions (relating to government) but can also be deployed overseas if needed.
Los Angeles protests - as they happened
On 9 June, a further 2,000 troops were deployed by the Trump administration, as well as 700 marines.
Here is everything you need to know about the protests and how it got to this stage.
How did the protests start?
Demonstrations broke out in southern California after federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) carried out raids across Los Angeles.
Two Home Depots and a clothing wholesaler were among the locations targeted, with workers suspected of being illegal immigrants detained.
Over the weekend, the DHS said ICE arrested 118 immigrants in LA.
Read more: Downtown LA is a scene of pandemonium and lawlessness
The first protests broke out on 6 June at the sites of the raids in downtown Los Angeles, before spreading to Paramount - a heavily Latino city south of LA - and neighbouring Compton.
Crowds tried to stop federal agents from driving away by throwing bins at vehicles and blocking the roads.
Since taking office for the second time in January, Mr Trump has signed several executive orders on the mass deportation of immigrants.
He's pledged to deport record numbers of people who have entered the country illegally and lock down the US-Mexico border, setting ICE a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day.
As a result, raids have ramped up, with several being reported across the US this year.
Why did Trump deploy the National Guard?
By deploying the National Guard, the US president invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority" of the US government.
Writing on Truth Social on Sunday evening as protesters clashed with federal officers, the US president said: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!."
The National Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including a downtown detention centre where protesters had gathered.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the last time it was deployed without a governor's permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama.
US Northern Command - which is tasked with providing military support for non-military authorities in the US - said the marines will join the National Guard with the aim of "protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area".
It said the deployment has been called Task Force 51, with personnel trained in "de-escalation" and "crowd control".
California Governor Mr Newsom called Mr Trump's order "purposefully inflammatory" and warned it would "only escalate tensions", before adding the deployment was "the wrong mission and will erode public trust".
Both he and mayor Karen Bass said Mr Trump's description of what is happening in LA is nowhere close to the truth.
They said he is putting public safety at risk by adding military personnel even though police say they don't need the help.
Read more:
Trump's immigration crackdown has changed lives
Trump seizes opportunity to deploy federal force in California
Trump's new travel ban: The notable countries omitted
Long guns and riot shields
Troops carrying long guns and riot shields faced off with protesters on 8 June, who shouted "shame" and "go home".
After some approached the National Guard members, another set of uniformed officers advanced on the group, shooting smoke-filled canisters into the street.
The Los Angeles Police Department also fired rounds of crowd-control munitions to disperse the protesters.
Demonstrations the day after were far less raucous, with thousands peacefully attending a rally at City Hall and hundreds protesting outside a federal building complex that includes a detention centre where some immigrants are being held.
Several dozen people have been arrested, with one person detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police, and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.
What has the reaction been?
Mr Newsom has formally requested that the Trump administration "rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command".
He said: "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."
In an interview with MSNBC, Mr Newsom added he planned to sue the administration over the deployment.
Los Angeles mayor, Ms Bass, urged residents: "Don't engage in violence and chaos... Don't give the administration what they want."
However, Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and a political adviser to Mr Trump, described the city as "occupied territory" and accused the mayor of taking "sides with the criminal invaders and rioters over the federal law enforcement officers".
In other social media posts, he called the demonstrations an "insurrection" and said: "We will take back America."
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Vice president JD Vance said: "Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers, while one half of America's political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil."
He then called for the president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act - a budget reconciliation bill that also boosts Border Patrol and ICE agents - to be passed by the Senate.