National Guard troops arrived in downtown Los Angeles Sunday after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment in response to two days of violent protests over federal immigration raids.
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Over strenuous objection from local Democratic officials, troops arrived to the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street at about 4 a.m. Sunday, and by early afternoon were standing off against another crowd of angry protesters as the Los Angeles Police Department issued a Tactical Alert.
"@TheCalGuard 79th IBCT has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They are conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel," the U.S. Northern Command posted at 9:07 a.m. Sunday.
"The National Guard is present and actively protecting federal assets in Los Angeles," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. "Anyone thinking about showing up to damage federal property or to assault our agents, think again."
Video posted by the Los Angeles Times showed a line of armed National Guard members protecting the detention center, which was heavily defaced with graffiti. The Guard troops occasionally directed smoke grenades and tear gas at protesters to keep them at bay and to protect federal vehicles.
Some streets in the area were closed to traffic and DASH bus lines were skipping stops.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, was outside the center Sunday, questioning the presence of the armed Guard members.
"If a young person who may not be documented decided to run because they're afraid, will they shoot them? Why do they have these guns? I'm really concerned about that," she said.
According to The Times, Waters also asked about two dozen of the Guard members, "Who are you going to shoot? If you're going to shoot me, you better shoot straight."
Around midday, the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division said three "peaceful" demonstrations were underway: non-permitted events at Olvera Street and at a federal facility on Alameda Street, and a permitted demonstration in front of the Central Division.
Another demonstration was planned for 7 p.m., when interfaith leaders from across Los Angeles County will gather for a candlelight vigil at City Hall to call for an "end to the violence of immigration raids, and the protection of immigrant families in LA County."
During Sunday's protest on Alameda Street, The Times reported that National Guard members threw tear gas canisters and smoke grenades toward the demonstrators. Police cautioned the public to expect delays on Alameda between the Hollywood (101) Freeway and First Street.
Meanwhile, Pasadena officials were reporting some sort of federal immigration activity in that city Sunday.
"We have received and confirmed reports that federal personnel are present in Pasadena. At this time, no enforcement activity has been confirmed," Mayor Victor Gordo said.
"We understand the anxiety and fear that these reports can create for many in our community. I urge our community to remain calm, united, and peaceful, and not be baited or provoked into violence. The right to peacefully assemble and express ourselves is a fundamental part of who we are -- not just as Pasadenans, but as Americans.
"We will update our community as more information becomes available."
The Presidential Memorandum posted Saturday on the White House website ordered the deployment of the Guard in light of "numerous incidents of violence and disorder [which] ... threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws."
The order states, in part that "The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.
"In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he has placed U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County on "high alert" to be deployed if needed.
The chaos began with a series of immigration enforcement raids Friday that sparked demonstrations featuring dozens of arrests and profane and threatening graffiti left on government buildings, and continued Saturday with violent protests in Paramount during the day and in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
Despite the unruly crowds, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said federal reinforcements were not needed.
"I'm very disappointed that he chose to do this, because it's just not necessary," Bass told KTLA5 Sunday morning. "There was protests last night in Los Angeles -- my understanding is that there were about 120 protesters. Several of them did commit acts of vandalism, but there was nothing that was happening in downtown Los Angeles that the Los Angeles Police Department could not manage to deal with, so to me, this is completely unnecessary, I think it's the administration just posturing. To have 100 troops in Westwood, where nothing had happened at all, and 100 downtown is just overreach."
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who typically only deploys the California National Guard upon request from local law enforcement, accused Trump of trying to create a "spectacle" rather than acting on a "legitimate need."
"The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers," Newsom posted on social media. "That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.
"L.A. authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust."
The LAPD announced that multiple people had been detained overnight after they "reentered the area of the Unlawful Assembly and against the Dispersal Order" following Saturday skirmishes on Alameda Street -- between Aliso and Temple streets -- which led to the demonstration being shutdown.
Also Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it arrested two people for an alleged assault on a peace officer. An unidentified source told the Los Angeles Times the arrests were made after three deputies were struck and sustained minor injuries from a thrown Molotov cocktail.
Saturday's protest in Paramount, near the Home Depot at 6400 Alondra Blvd., escalated throughout the day, with many in the crowd turning over shopping carts and other objects that were left in the street, while federal authorities in riot gear stood by. The street filled with smoke from tear gas canisters, and at least one protester could be seen on the ground bleeding in news footage, though the nature of the apparent injury wasn't clear.
One protester set fire to a United States flag, a Fox11 reported posted video showing one of the station's news vehicles with slashed tires and smashed windows, and one man in a yellow helmet was seen in video footage throwing large rocks at vehicles driving through the area.
The FBI later announced that a $50,000 reward was available for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of that suspect. The agency released photos of the suspect at fbi.gov/wanted/seeking- info/assault-on-a-federal-officer-and-damage-to-government-property.
"On June 7, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the suspect threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, California, injuring a federal officer and damaging government vehicles," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Homeland Security Department on Sunday identified six of the people who were detained in the raids Friday and Saturday. They were described as follows:
-- Jose Cristobal Hernandez-Buitron, 43, a citizen of Peru who allegedly has a criminal history that includes a conviction for robbery that resulted in a 10 year-sentence.
-- Chrissahdah Tooy, 48, a citizen of Indonesia, who allegedly has convictions for narcotics, driving under the influence and illegal entry.
-- Jordan Mauricio Meza-Esquibel, 32, a citizen of Honduras, who allegedly has arrests for distribution of heroin and cocaine and domestic violence.
-- Francisco Sanchez-Arguello, 38, a citizen of Mexico, who allegedly has arrests for grand theft larceny and possession of a prohibited weapon.
-- Cuong Chanh Phan, 49, a citizen of Vietnam, who allegedly has a conviction for second-degree murder for which he was sentenced to 15 years to life.
-- Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, a citizen of the Philippines, who allegedly has convictions for theft, assault, burglary and rape.
Trump address the situation in a social media post at 11:41 p.m. Saturday.
"Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest," Trump posted Saturday night, before the troops' arrival in downtown Los Angeles. "We have an incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) who were, as usual (just look at how they handled the fires, and now their VERY SLOW PERMITTING disaster. Federal permitting is complete!), unable to to handle the task.
"These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why??? Again, thank you to the National Guard for a job well done!"
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials posted photos of some of the aftermath of the protests Saturday, which they claimed showed "death threats and profane language spray painted on taxpayer-owned property and walkways littered with objects that had been hurled at federal law enforcement."
" ... Despite what you may be hearing, the record checks show that we arrested illegal aliens with criminal histories including: child cruelty, domestic violence, drug trafficking, assault, robbery and human smuggling," the agency added.
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