The president of the United States, Donald Trump,has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members in Los Angeles after several days of violent protests caused by an influx of illegal immigrants, following the raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The raids resulted in at least 118 arrests, including 44 on Friday alone, and sparked intense demonstrations in the predominantly Latino district of Paramount. Tensions escalated with clashes between protesters and federal agents, the use of tear gas, and mutual accusations between federal and state authorities.
The FBI director, Kash Patel, warned that anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer "will go to jail, no exceptions." In statements to Fox News Digital, Patel stated that the FBI will support law enforcement if local authorities do not do so.
On social media, Patel reaffirmed his position: "It doesn't matter where you come from or what movement you support. If local police do not support our agents, the FBI will." The measure intensifies the federal response to the growing tension over immigration operations in the state.
Trump justified the federal intervention by alleging that local Democratic authorities, especially California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, had failed to restore order.
On his Truth Social network, the president described California's Democratic leaders as "incompetent" and assured that the federal administration would solve the "riots and looters" problem as appropriate.
He also imposed a new measure banning the use of masks during protests, questioning: "What do these people have to hide, and why?"
El presidente Trump lanzó fuertes críticas a las autoridades demócratas de California
Meanwhile, governor Newsom described the federal action as "deliberately provocative" and mentioned that it would only increase tensions. His office reported that Trump used a special provision to take control of the National Guard, without state authorization.
Newsom also blamed the federal government for provoking violence with its "chaotic raids" and accused the Trump administration of wanting to create a political spectacle.
The protests began on Friday near the federal building in downtown Los Angeles and continued on Saturday, spreading to other areas. In Paramount, dozens of people confronted ICE agents and other federal forces.
In videos shared on social media protesters wearing hoods can be seen throwing stones and fireworks, burning vehicles, and destroying public property.
El demócrata Gavin Newsom criticó la decisión de Trump de enviar a la Guardia Nacional
Agents replied with tear gas, stun grenades, and arrests. According to local reports, many illegal immigrants were trapped in nearby businesses, representing a danger to Los Angeles residents.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement, denounced that violent crowds attacked federal agents during "basic deportation" operations. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem warned that any attack against law enforcement officers would be punished with arrests.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also intervened, announcing that the marines at the Camp Pendleton military base were on "high alert" and could be mobilized if the violence continued. Newsom described this threat as "deranged behavior."
El secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos aseguró que el cuerpo de Marines se encuentra en alerta máxima
Although Trump publicly thanked the National Guard for a "great job" in controlling the riots, reports indicate that the troops had not yet fully arrived in the city by Saturday night. According to a federal official cited by The New York Times, reinforcements would arrive within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, conservative figures such as FBI deputy director Dan Bongino also warned on social media that "chaos will be met with handcuffs" and that order will prevail.
