(Los Angeles) Donald Trump ordered the sending of the National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles after two days of sometimes violent demonstrations against immigrant expulsions, a rare deployment, expected on Sunday against the advice of the Democratic Governor of California.
The Washington government denounces “anarchy” in Los Angeles, while local authorities speak of a “incendiary” decision by Donald Trump.
It intervenes after two days of demonstrations and incidents caused by demonstrators opposed to the expulsions of migrants, mainly Latin-American, in this city where a large population of the same origin lives.
“We must defend our people,” a woman told AFP, refusing to give her name, whose parents are immigrants.
Mexican flag
An AFP photographer has seen fires, fire fire fire fires during clashes, or a demonstrator holding a Mexican flag in front of a calcined car on which a slogan had been scored against the Federal Agency Immigration and Customs Shall (ICE).
Photo Daniel Cole, Reuters
A car destroyed after clashes between the police and the demonstrators in the city of Paramount
On Saturday, the Republican President, one of the main political objectives of which is to greatly reduce the important immigration to the United States, decided “the deployment of 2,000 national guards to remedy the anarchy that has been left prosperous,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, treating Californian Democratic leaders of “incapable”.
Regional governor Gavin Newsom, for his part denounced a “deliberately incendiary” initiative which “will only increase tensions”.
President Trump welcomed the “fantastic work” of the guard on Sunday, even if the effective deployment of this reserve force has not yet been noted by AFP.
The mayor of Los Angeles also said on X that the guard was not yet deployed.
“Everyone has the right to demonstrate peacefully, but let’s be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and officials will have to account,” she also warned on X.
Such a decision to deploy the National Guard is very rare. Force reserve army, it was recently mainly mobilized during natural disasters, as during the megafeux in Los Angeles in early 2025.
It is also occasionally deployed in the event of civilian disorders, but almost always with the agreement of the local authorities.
Photo Eric Thayer, Associated Press
A protester holds a sign while members of the border police in rugged outfit and equipped with gas masks are sticking to the outside of an industrial park in the paramount section of Los Angeles.
His last intervention in California for civilian disorders dates back to 2020, following the violent riots caused by the death of George Floyd, an African-American killed by a police officer in Los Angeles.
“We bring the handcuffs”
Donald Trump had warned on Saturday that “if the Governor of California (…) and the mayor of Los Angeles (…) cannot do their job, what everyone knows, then the federal government will intervene and solve the problem”, whose home is the district of Paramount.
Police raids are “an injustice”, and those arrested “human beings like others,” said AFP Fernando Delgado, 24, a resident.
The demonstrations began after members of the ICE gathered on Saturday near a DIY department store, where workers traditionally come to offer their services for the day.
Photo Daniel Cole, Reuters
Protesters are held on a car destroyed during a confrontation between the police and the demonstrators following multiple immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the city of Paramount, in the County of Los Angeles, California, United States, June 7, 2025.
Protesters have thrown objects on the police and tried to prevent a coach from leaving the premises. The agents postponed them using tear gas and deafening grenades.
Protesters also attacked a vehicle from US Marshals Service which came out of a neighboring highway, leading the authorities to close the access straps.
“We peel the videos to identify the authors. You bring chaos, we bring the handcuffs, ”replied the deputy director of the Federal Police (FBI), Dan Bongino.
“The Trump administration applies zero tolerance policy with regard to criminal behavior and violence, especially when this violence aims at police officers who try to do their job,” also hammered Mme Leavitt.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also threatened to appeal to the regular army based nearby. If necessary, the “Camp Marines Pendleton will also be mobilized. They are already on alert, “he said on social media.
A statement with a symbolic scope, according to law professor Jessica Levinson, noting that the commitment of American soldiers for domestic purposes is legally limited in the absence of insurrection. “As for the National Guard, it can do nothing more than provide logistical and personnel support.”
