Tension Rises as National Guard Troops Deployed in Downtown LA Following Immigration Protest Clashes
President Trump authorizes 2,000 National Guard troops to enter Los Angeles as immigration protests intensify into violent confrontations.
Early Sunday morning, National Guard troops were seen staging outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles. The deployment comes after two consecutive nights of unrest stemming from federal immigration raids, sparking political backlash and concerns of overreach.
LOS ANGELES, June 8 — In a stunning show of force, National Guard troops were deployed across downtown Los Angeles following escalating demonstrations against federal immigration raids. The troops were seen assembling near key federal buildings shortly after dawn on Sunday, signaling a significant escalation in response to civil unrest.
The move follows a formal announcement from the Trump administration to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops across California, including 300 in Los Angeles, after federal agents clashed with hundreds of protesters over the weekend. Protesters blocked highways, defaced buildings, and set vehicles on fire in response to ICE-led immigration raids that had resulted in over 100 arrests.
President Donald Trump justified the deployment by citing the need to restore law and order. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the move, calling it “a violation of state authority and democratic process,” and signaled a potential lawsuit to challenge the decision in court.
The LAPD, already stretched thin, coordinated with federal forces and the National Guard to regain control of key areas, particularly downtown and the Civic Center district, where much of the unrest had been concentrated.
Witnesses reported helicopters hovering above the city, while armored vehicles and heavily armed personnel moved into position. As tensions continued into the night, curfews were re-imposed, and tear gas was used to disperse crowds.
Civic leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, voiced alarm at the military-style presence in the city. “This is not the Los Angeles we want to become,” she said. “We must address the issue of immigration enforcement, but not by militarizing our streets.”
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