By WPS News Staff Reporter | June 9, 2025 10:15 AM PhST

Los Angeles—Protests erupted this past weekend after federal immigration agents, assisted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), executed sweeping raids that prompted a forceful reaction from demonstrators in downtown L.A., including Boyle Heights and Paramount. When protesters converged on the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and spilled onto the 101 Freeway, law enforcement declared curfews and enforced dispersal orders alongside tear gas, flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets, and pepper balls (Reuters, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025).

In response, President Trump mobilized 2,000 members of the California National Guard under federal command—a move strongly decried by local leaders. Governor Gavin Newsom called the deployment “unlawful” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty,” while Mayor Karen Bass warned the escalation would only fuel tensions (Reuters, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025). Congressman Nanette Barragán echoed their concerns, adding that local law enforcement “have the manpower that they need” and that the federal response risked exacerbating unrest (Politico, 2025).

Troops began arriving in L.A. on Sunday, positioning themselves near federal facilities amidst ongoing protests (NYP, 2025; AP, 2025). Federal officials defended the intervention, citing “violent” elements among demonstrators and claiming the Guard’s presence would help “restore order”—even as hundreds remained peaceful (AP, 2025; The Guardian, 2025).

Tensions escalated further when U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted that active-duty Marines could be deployed if the situation grew more volatile (Reuters, 2025; Bild, 2025). Photojournalists capturing the unrest—including a 60‑year‑old British photographer—were struck by police-fired “less‑lethal” rounds, highlighting concerns over civil liberties amid militarized crowd control (The Times, 2025).

The nationalizing of the California National Guard is rare and legally contentious. Legal experts warn it may breach long-held state authority norms unless faced with insurrection (Washington Post, 2025). For now, the standoff continues: California officials urge de-escalation, while federal authorities promise to “take all such action necessary.”

References

Associated Press. (2025, June 8). AP Photos: Protesters clash with law enforcement in Los Angeles. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/d6790a80fbea5fb2ee78af9a5ea423ce

The Guardian. (2025, June 8). LA protests live: California governor and LA mayor urge Trump to remove national guard troops. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jun/08/trump-national-guard-la-protests-immigration-ice-us-politics-live-news

Politico. (2025, June 8). California lawmaker pans Trump’s push to federalize National Guard in California. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/08/reaction-trump-federalize-national-guard-california-00393711

Reuters. (2025, June 8). Trump orders National Guard to L.A. after immigration protests escalate. Reuters.

The Washington Post. (2025, June 8). Trump’s National Guard move in California prompts legal concerns. The Washington Post.

The Times. (2025, June 8). Photographers wounded as police fire on journalists during LA protests. The Times (UK).

Bild. (2025, June 8). Hegseth: Marines could intervene if LA unrest spreads. Bild.

NYP. (2025, June 8). National Guard patrols federal sites in Los Angeles amid protest. New York Post.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

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