By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
UNITED STATES of America’s federal forces have been sent to Los Angeles after days of violent clashes sparked by immigration raids targeting undocumented migrants across California.
US President Donald Trump authorised the deployment of 2,000 National Guard personnel in response to what the White House described as “rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States”.
Tensions flared after a week of intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which led to at least 118 arrests in Los Angeles, including 44 on Friday alone.
Protesters opposed to the raids have repeatedly confronted ICE agents in the streets, with demonstrations turning violent and disrupting federal operations.
According to a memorandum from the White House, National Guard units will be placed under federal authority for an initial period of 60 days.
Their mission includes safeguarding federal officers, protecting immigration detention facilities, and preventing further unrest.
The Secretary of Defense is specifically tasked with coordinating the deployment in conjunction with state governors and may extend the duration or personnel numbers as deemed necessary.
The federal order allows the military to undertake “protective activities” aimed at ensuring the safety of both federal personnel and property.
Withdrawal of troops will require consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump, speaking via his Truth Social platform, directly criticised California’s leadership, branding Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as “incompetent” and asserting that the federal government “will step in and solve the problem … the way it should be solved”.
California officials responded with sharp condemnation.
Newsom described the federal action as “cruel and purposefully inflammatory”, warning that it would worsen already heightened tensions.
He further criticised ICE’s operations as “reckless” and driven by “arbitrary arrest quotas”.
The deployment marks the first time a sitting president has federalised the National Guard in Los Angeles since the 1992 riots following the police beating of Rodney King.
The National Guard, a centuries-old military reserve component, is traditionally mobilised by state governors in response to local emergencies but may be called into federal service under specific constitutional provisions.
With federal agents, military personnel, and protesters converging across California’s cities, concerns are mounting over the potential for further unrest.
The administration maintains that all its actions are within the scope of protecting federal interests and enforcing immigration law.
