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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2025
Outside the box.
National Guard Deploys in Los Angeles Amid Immigration Protests
In response to escalating tensions from immigration enforcement actions, National Guard troops are deployed in Los Angeles as protests intensify.
National Guard troops have been deployed in Los Angeles following extensive protests against recent immigration enforcement actions.
Footage broadcast by various media outlets shows troops stationed near downtown, particularly around the Metropolitan Detention Center and in the Paramount area.
The deployment comes in the wake of a significant federal crackdown on immigration, which has provoked widespread demonstrations across California.
As unrest escalated, protesters gathered, some clashing with law enforcement officials, leading to arrests and reported injuries among both demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.
Authorities have engaged with protesters using pepper balls and tear gas in multiple locations, including Alameda, where National Guard members reportedly deployed smoke canisters to disperse crowds.
Protests have been notably intense outside of federal facilities amid concerns over the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on local communities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the deployment as a "chaotic escalation," stressing the anxiety felt within immigrant communities due to the heightened military presence.
Concurrently, California Governor Gavin Newsom characterized the deployment as an attempt by President Trump to create a crisis, with pressing calls for protesters to remain peaceful.
Newsom asserted, "He’s hoping for chaos so he can justify more crackdowns, more fear, more control."
In contrast, Tom Homan, Trump’s designated point person on immigration, stated that enforcement actions would continue daily in Los Angeles.
He warned that failure to comply with federal directives could lead to significant legal repercussions, reinforcing the administration's hardline stance on immigration.
Local Democrat representatives have expressed their disapproval of the National Guard's presence, calling it an intimidation tactic.
Becca Balint, a representative from Vermont, described the deployment as a means of sowing fear and division in communities already stressed by ICE’s actions.
Reporters on the ground noted instances of violent confrontations leading to injuries among protestors, including one incident where a news photographer sustained a serious injury during clashes with law enforcement.
The protests, which began on Friday, have reportedly seen the arrest of dozens of individuals.
Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard reflects his administration’s ongoing approach to immigration policy, which has faced considerable backlash both locally and nationally.
As protests continue to unfold, the government maintains a heavy police and military presence in key areas, suggesting a potential for further escalation in response to civil unrest.
Footage broadcast by various media outlets shows troops stationed near downtown, particularly around the Metropolitan Detention Center and in the Paramount area.
The deployment comes in the wake of a significant federal crackdown on immigration, which has provoked widespread demonstrations across California.
As unrest escalated, protesters gathered, some clashing with law enforcement officials, leading to arrests and reported injuries among both demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.
Authorities have engaged with protesters using pepper balls and tear gas in multiple locations, including Alameda, where National Guard members reportedly deployed smoke canisters to disperse crowds.
Protests have been notably intense outside of federal facilities amid concerns over the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on local communities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the deployment as a "chaotic escalation," stressing the anxiety felt within immigrant communities due to the heightened military presence.
Concurrently, California Governor Gavin Newsom characterized the deployment as an attempt by President Trump to create a crisis, with pressing calls for protesters to remain peaceful.
Newsom asserted, "He’s hoping for chaos so he can justify more crackdowns, more fear, more control."
In contrast, Tom Homan, Trump’s designated point person on immigration, stated that enforcement actions would continue daily in Los Angeles.
He warned that failure to comply with federal directives could lead to significant legal repercussions, reinforcing the administration's hardline stance on immigration.
Local Democrat representatives have expressed their disapproval of the National Guard's presence, calling it an intimidation tactic.
Becca Balint, a representative from Vermont, described the deployment as a means of sowing fear and division in communities already stressed by ICE’s actions.
Reporters on the ground noted instances of violent confrontations leading to injuries among protestors, including one incident where a news photographer sustained a serious injury during clashes with law enforcement.
The protests, which began on Friday, have reportedly seen the arrest of dozens of individuals.
Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard reflects his administration’s ongoing approach to immigration policy, which has faced considerable backlash both locally and nationally.
As protests continue to unfold, the government maintains a heavy police and military presence in key areas, suggesting a potential for further escalation in response to civil unrest.
