As the U.S. federal government increased the intensity of crackdowns on illegal immigrants, protests against this continued for the third day in Los Angeles, California, on the 8th (local time).
On that day, the National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump arrived in LA, and in some areas, soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters.
U.S. media reported that 300 National Guard personnel were deployed in three key protest areas in LA. According to Fox News, troops from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were armed with rifles, wearing helmets and bulletproof vests, and set up positions around federal detention facilities and City Hall.
Fox News, citing the Northern Command, stated that they were assigned to "protect federal assets and personnel."
Minister Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security stated, "These are units specially trained for crowd control," emphasizing, "We will prevent a repeat of the events of 2020."
In 2020, in the United States, the death of George Floyd, a Black man, due to police overreach led to the "Black Lives Matter (BLM)" movement erupting across the country.
The protest began on the 6th. At that time, agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided clothing wholesale markets in downtown LA and in front of Home Depot, detaining 44 undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security later announced that 118 people had been arrested in LA.
Afterward, backlash erupted around Paramount, a densely Hispanic area with a high immigrant population. In Paramount, 82% of the 51,000 residents belong to Latino ethnic groups.
On the 7th, the protests intensified even further. Some participants set fire to trees and trash and kicked Border Patrol vehicles. The enforcement authorities used tear gas and flashbangs.
The LA County Sheriff's Office reported that the protesters "threw stones and displayed violent behavior toward federal agents and sheriffs."
On the morning of the 8th, a physical altercation broke out between the protesters and federal agents in Compton, a representative impoverished area of LA.
Dan Bongino, FBI Deputy Director, warned on social media that "anyone who obstructs the crackdown with violence will be subject to investigation and prosecution."
Trump also stated on Truth Social on the 7th that "California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has not properly addressed this situation," adding, "The federal government will directly resolve issues of riots and looting." The White House immediately announced the signing of an order to mobilize 2,000 National Guard troops.
CBS reported that "the mobilization of the National Guard without the governor's request is the first such occurrence in 60 years since the Lyndon Johnson administration in 1965," noting that "the federal deployment of troops for the purposes of suppressing protests is also a historic event not seen in 33 years since the 1992 LA riots."
Legal experts pointed out that the National Guard mobilization order issued by President Trump has potential legal controversies. The legal community noted that the Posse Comitatus Act enacted in 1878 prohibits the enforcement of civilian law by federal troops.
Steve Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University, stated, "Unless the Insurrection Act is invoked, the National Guard cannot participate in general law enforcement activities," meaning that the National Guard can only perform limited roles in protecting ICE agents.
According to local media reports, after the deployment of the National Guard, the size of the protests on the 8th decreased somewhat from the previous day. However, tensions heightened.
In front of the LA Metropolitan Jail, Department of Homeland Security agents also fired tear gas at the protesters.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticized, "The deployment of military forces against civilians undermines democratic principles."
On the other hand, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, "Active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton are on standby," raising the threats by stating, "If violence continues, we will also send in the Marines."
Vice President J.D. Vance also labeled the protesters as "insurgents," warning that "anyone who violates the law or obstructs law enforcement will be prosecuted vigorously."
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump in an ABC interview, saying that the mobilization of the National Guard is "not excessive."
On the 8th, President Trump stated on Truth Social, "From now on, the wearing of masks by protesters is prohibited," adding, "I will not allow the country to be divided like under Biden. I will deploy troops everywhere."