President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to the Los Angeles area to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” his press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Saturday evening, following two days of angry protests over federal immigration actions.
“The Trump Administration has a zero tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs,” she posted on X.
Trump’s border Czar Tom Homan said the Guard would arrive on Saturday night. Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for California’s Central District, later said they would be in LA “within 24 hours.”
The Trump announcement came as a Blackhawk helicopter was seen landing on a Paramount street and unloading what appeared to be large amounts of weapons and ammunition.
Federal authorities followed multiple immigration raids around Los Angeles on Friday with another action on Saturday, this time gathering in a Home Depot parking lot in Paramount, where they again faced off with protesters, who turned over shopping carts and other items and lit an American flag on fire in the street.
“American people, this is about enforcing the law, and again, we’re not going to apologize for doing it,” Homan told Fox News of the Guard’s deployment.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement criticizing the plan. “That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,” he said.
“The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” Newsom added. “Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”
U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were using the expansive Home Depot parking lot at 6400 Alondra Blvd. in Paramount as a staging area on Saturday, according to Fox11, citing sources.
As the conflict escalated, authorities released less-than-lethal weapons and the area filled with smoke from tear gas canisters. At least one protester could be seen on the ground bleeding in news footage, though the nature of the injury wasn’t clear.
Demonstrators also threw objects at a U.S. Marshals Service bus and attempted to stop the bus from moving. A few armed federal agents exited the bus and cleared the protesters, and the bus continued.
“Local source there says it sounds and looks like a war zone, explosions everywhere,” wrote Anthony Cabassa, described as an independent journalist on X.
Fox11 reporter Matthew Seedorff posted a video on X showing one of the station’s news vehicles with slashed tires and smashed windows. Seedorff also said items were stolen from the vehicle.
A rubber bullet fired by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy hit 21-year-old Alexis Kapresa after a scuffle she had with a pro-Trump counter-protester. “He came after me, so I went after him,” she said. She was getting out her pepper spray to defend herself, she said, when she was struck. The less-than-lethal bullet left a bloody injury near her left shoulder.
A possible focal point of the National Guard presence is just blocks away from the staging area, on the other side of the Los Angeles River and the 710 Freeway, where personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had established a large presence Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Alondra and Atlantic boulevards in nearby Compton, and where a car had been set afire before city firefighters put it out.
A Key News Network videographer at the scene in Compton said he captured a car driving toward deputies; a woman was then shot at with pepper balls as she raised her window.
At a hastily arranged afternoon news conference in Paramount, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna called for calm.
“We will protect your right to peacefully protest, but we cannot and will not tolerate violence or destruction of property,” Luna said.
“I know that there’s a lot going on in last 24 hours regarding immigration and concerns, and all I ask our community to do here in Los Angeles (is to) approach it in a different way without using violence … I do not sanction attacks on federal officers. That is not good for any of us,” he added.
“ICE has brought their terror tactics and masked agents to #Paramount this morning — in my district,” Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Los Angeles, wrote on X. “This is unacceptable. We will demand answers and accountability. For those out there – please stay safe, protest peacefully, and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.”
In a statement on Saturday, ICE acting director Todd M. Lyons wrote, “What took place in Los Angeles (Friday) was appalling. As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement.
“Our brave officers were vastly outnumbered, as over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building. It took over two hours for the Los Angeles Police Department to respond, despite being called multiple times. The brave men and women of ICE were in Los Angeles arresting criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers and those with a history of assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and smuggling.
“These violent rioters will be held accountable if they harm federal officers, and make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens. Sanctuary politicians would do well to remember that impeding our efforts only endangers their communities, law enforcement officers, and the detainees they claim to support.”
Also on Saturday, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino warned that some protesters could be prosecuted following Friday’s disturbances in downtown Los Angeles in response to the raids.
“The right to assemble and protest does not include a license to attack law enforcement officers, or to impede and obstruct our lawful immigration operations,” Bongino wrote on X. “We are thoroughly reviewing the evidence from yesterday’s incident in Los Angeles and we are working with the US Attorney’s Office to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“The days of chaos ruling the streets are over,” Bongino said. “Either obey the law, or go to jail, there’s no third option.”
He added later in the day, “Multiple arrests have already been made for obstructing our operations. More are coming. We are pouring through the videos for more perpetrators. You bring chaos, and we’ll bring handcuffs.”
Newsom also weighed in earlier Saturday, posting, “As the federal government conducts chaotic immigration sweeps across the country, the state is deploying additional CHP to maintain safety on Los Angeles highways to keep the peace. It’s not their job to assist in federal immigration enforcement. The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves.”
Bass also issued a statement, saying, “This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County. Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning. We’ve been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but let me be clear: Violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
It did not seem that any day laborers, who frequently gather at Home Depots seeking work, were taken into custody at the Paramount location on Saturday.
City News Service and Staff writer Ryanne Mena contributed to this report.
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