Trump Federalizes California Guard to Protect ICE From Protestors
Things are getting ugly in LA.
AP (“Trump deploys California National Guard to LA to quell protests despite the governor’s objections“):
President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom after a second day of clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear.
Confrontations broke out on Saturday near a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, where federal agents were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office nearby. Agents unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls, and protesters hurled rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. Smoke wafted from small piles of burning refuse in the streets.
Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, including in LA’s fashion district and at a Home Depot, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement.
The White House announced that Trump would deploy the Guard to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” It wasn’t clear when the troops would arrive.
Newsom, a Democrat, said in a post on the social platform X that it was “purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.” He later said the federal government wants a spectacle and urged people not to give them one by becoming violent.
In a signal of the administration’s aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to deploy the U.S. military.
“If violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” Hegseth said on X.
Trump’s order came after clashes in Paramount and neighboring Compton, where a car was set on fire. Protests continued into the evening in Paramount, with several hundred demonstrators gathered near a doughnut shop, and authorities holding up barbed wire to keep the crowd back.
[…]
The president’s move came shortly after he issued a threat on his social media network saying that if Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not “do their jobs,” then “the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
Trump signed the order shortly before he went to attend a UFC fight in New Jersey, where he sat ringside with boxer Mike Tyson.
Newsom said in his statement that local authorities “are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice,” and “there is currently no unmet need.”
The California Highway Patrol said Newsom directed it to deploy additional officers to “maintain public safety.”
Speaking on ABC7, Bass said that “we certainly want to make the opportunities available for people to exercise their First Amendment rights, but the minute that things turn to violence … that is not acceptable and people are going to be held accountable.”
It’s difficult to judge these things from text accounts. ICE agents should be able to do their jobs without interference—let alone violence—from demonstrators. But staging a massive sweep in a predominantly Latino neighborhood, dressed in paramilitary gear, is intentionally intimidating and anxiety-inducing. And it’s not at all clear from the news accounts I’ve read and video snippets I’ve seen whether the smoke, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades were a response to crowd violence or helped spark it.
Newsom is almost certainly right that sending 2000-plus Guardsmen in riot gear will escalate tensions. It’s also the case that protests can be held nearby, in a way that doesn’t interfere with the duty of federal law enforcement officers.
But still not deserving of a National Guard response. And definitely not using the Marines against US citizens.
James, what do you think the proper forms of protest should be, if you think ICE is performing illegal actions?
ICE’s job is pretty awful. You can’t watch normal people being snatched up by masked guys in body armor because the voluntarily went to an appointment with immigration authorities, and not want to stop that job from happening.
It’s the only humane reaction you can have. Before Trump, Obama deported millions, but social media was different then, and the people authorizing it were cynical enough to understand that it was not something to boast about. Trump put the ugliness front and center, and it didn’t go away, which is why Biden had to deal with the ugliness by trying to slow down deportations. Now the Trump is back it’s all ugly, all the time.
“Steve Vladeck”
…
James, these are massive sweeps by unidentified people who run an unaccountable system, at the open demand of a fascist official who wants a quota arrested.
Prior to Trump, they could and they did without needing support from the National Guard.
So what changed?
The obvious answer is that since Trump’s inauguration, ICE has been violating people’s civil rights on a massive scale.
But somehow all the supposedly law-and-order advocates are missing that elephant in the room.
How convenient.
Saw a copy of a release from the LAPD accusing ICE and the Feds of overreacting to peaceful protests. When the cops aren’t on your side…
The felonious TACO has been itching to turn the military loose on the public and in particular to do so in a Dem stronghold.
Stephen Miller is touching himself, inappropriately, while all this goes on.
Instigation intended to trigger escalation.
The Insurrection Act and using the Military against the American people is the goal.
I’m glad I’m near the end of my days. We will not come back from this.
James, some part of me wants to agree with you, that the officers should be able to do their jobs without interference. But civilization is a two-way street.
The ICE officers (and possibly other federal agencies, it isn’t clear) are hiding their faces, removing their name tags, and coming in armed to the teeth. The people they’re detaining are often innocent, and are being held in deplorable conditions, with no food or water. In a number of cases, they’ve arrested people who were trying to do the right thing and respect the terms of their parole. They’ve arrested a judge, a union leader, and congresspeople, a mayor. At one point do they no longer deserve any sort of cooperation?
And at some level, the whole “designated protest zones” and the like just becomes undemocratic. Is there such a thing as a heckler’s veto, and is it a problem? Yes. But at some point, when enough of a group of people don’t want you there, maybe you shouldn’t be there. At the very least, the fact that there are a lot of people who disagree with you shouldn’t be concealed from you, or everyone else.
This administration has been snatching people off the street and flying them to foreign prisons with no due process whatsoever. They deserve to be watched at every step. They deserve to be protested at every moment. They have earned this disrespect.
AND, if the protesters are violent, Trump wins. It isn’t fair. It is true. You could ask John Lewis about it. They trained for those protests. They knew they couldn’t get violent, even though they might want to.
They are itching to escalate.
They clearly think that force makes right.
It is only of time before things get ugly elsewhere.
@drj: Agreed. It isn’t like deportations are new.
Update from Marcy Wheeler:
The goal is clearly intimidation. If we cannot protest effectively now, when will that change? Capitulation will only result in fragmentation and inability to effectively organize and carry out protests later. And to top it off the military, by being forced into a role, will see itself as even more distinct from the civilian population making it ever easier to us force without internal dissent, or even qualms
Trump’s most fervid wish is to shoot protesters. He wanted to do it his first time but was restrained by cabinet members who refused. The entire reason he put that incompetent bigot in charge of the Pentagon was so that he could shoot protesters. He’ll find a way to do it at some point.
And half the country will cheer.
@Hal_10000: I don’t know if he will, at least not via the military. Via the Homeland Security department, quite possibly. But this is t what the military signed up for, and they get a lot more training about not following illegal orders.
Oddly, KTLA 5 is showing a different view than most of those commenting above.
ICE is executing warrants signed by judges, i.e., proper functioning of the government, that people are seeking to interfere with through violence. It is the state and local police who are having to engage protestors when they interfere with the functioning of the government.
One woman declares they don’t want ICE in their community, their city or even California which is a clear statement of the desire to interfere with the proper functioning of government.
My heart goes out to Gavin Newsom, who has to navigate this difficult situation with few precedents that he can rely upon to tell him which direction the wind is blowing and which direction it will be blowing tomorrow. The poor man will likely have to make some kind of stand.
Throwing rocks isn’t peaceful protest. It’s giving the goons what they want. It’s childish, stupid, and needs to stop.
@Steven L. Taylor:
Will it? Members of the military have a conscience. Will they open fire on unarmed people.
I’m old enough to remember the People’s Power Revolution* in the Philippines. There Filipino military refused to open fire on unarmed protestors. We could see that happen here also. No I’m not making any predictions.
*- As most OTB regulars know, I’m married to a Filipina who I met while stationed with the US Navy in the Philippines but that occurred after the People’s Power Revolution.
@Hal_10000: I don’t know if it better or worse that some will just shrug.
@Kingdaddy:
Agreed AND I think it’s important to be careful to not define any protest movement by the (usually) small minority that throws the rocks.
Or to expect that organizers–especially of protests where there are lots of different groups coming together–to fully police everyone in the crowd (especially once police start deploying “non-lethal” tactics).
One of the challenges of the way MLK is taught is that it tends to give the impression that the entire civil rights movement only engaged in non-violence–even when violence was used against them. That’s an ahistorical view and holding current protester movements to that is going to always fail.
And that’s before we get to the sure that at the time MLK’s protests were portrayed in the media as riots as well. See this political cartoon (and the handwriting around it) as an example:
https://www.cbr.com/martin-luther-king-jr-cartoons-depictions-1960s-media/
BTW: This isn’t to absolve peaceful organizers and protester of responsibility. However, if people want to advance the “few bad apples” defense of law enforcers, then give protesters that same grace.
BTW, Kingdaddy, I know you were not advancing the “few bad apples” defense of LEOs.
@JKB:
So then Trump and Republicans will be looking to pardon her and pay her millions of taxpayer money, like with the violent Jan 6 terrorists Trump sent to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power?
@Kingdaddy: Agreed
@drj:
Hence why they feel compelled to hide their faces to “do their jobs,” like the KKK does.
@Bill Jempty: I was referencing Hegseth (and the broader Trump administration). I think they are itching to escalate.
@Matt Bernius: Also agreed.
One more comment on @my post from above:
I’m not naive about protester actions almost always being judged more harshly* than police actions. I also think it’s worth asking ourselves why we tend to put so much attention on the disruption created by those few rock throwers.
* – At least in the short term. Again, I will go back to how contemporaneous new sources and commentators often characterized MLK’s protests for the violence that happened during them (typically started by state actors). BTW, that’s part of the reason why MLK commented many times on the nature of riots and what they indicate.
@JKB: You are quoting a US Attorney representing the views of the Trump administration. That is just KTLA sharing that statement. It is not KTLA saying it.
I recognize that this is a bit of a Rorschach Test, but no, KTLA is not “showing a different view.”
@Steven L. Taylor:
My point is what will the military do if that takes place.
After only being here a week, I”m flying back to LA later today. Two of my best friends are Immigration Attorneys, and they need all the help they can get. I’ll be helping them find their clients as several have been snatched up WHILE OBEYING THE LAW OF CHECKING IN with Immigration officials.
JKB – Fuck you.
Andy – Time to get worried yet, or still waiting for the Administration to do bad things? Asking for a friend.
@EddieInDR: Ha, why is Andy out here catching strays? What did he do? Lol
Pretty sure he is quite alarmed about this administration.
@EddieInDR:
I hinted at the arresting folks when they follow the rules and show up for their hearings thing in another post today. And I will address it later in a stand alone post. It’s an incredibly stupid and harmful tactic… and I think it’s essentially intended that way.
Good luck to you and your friends as they are truly doing the Lord’s work.
@DK:
For months Andy told people like you and I that we were overreacting to the administration’s early actions and that we should wait until they do something really bad to react strongly.
I’m wondering when that time will come, or has it come already.
To everyone who says “I didn’t think it would be this bad”, I say “Fuck you. You were warned.”
Atrios quotes Bill Kristol,
I agree with Bill Kristol, Trump has made Hell freeze over.
@Steven L. Taylor:
Also, too, one woman telling a reporter she doesn’t want ICE in her community, city, or state is not a clear statement of intent to obstruct law enforcement.
The ICE and ICE-adjacent thugs are either amazingly poorly trained, or are actively trying to provoke a reaction.
Here’s a post with a fun skater kid. He’s very threatening.
https://bsky.app/profile/jeremotographs.bsky.social/post/3lr2duyta5k2y
@Gustopher:
Why not both? One notes they looked really well equipped for a riot, without a riot. Theatre.
From what I understand, which may well be wrong, Trump has not invoked the insurrection act. That being the case, the Posse Comitatus act forbids the Guard from acting as law enforcement, so all they can do is provide logistic support and stand around. Same as when they get sent to the southern border. Pure immigration theater.
In Catch 22 Lt. Scheisskopf, of Special Services (USO shows, donuts, etc.) keeps ordering the bomber wing to hold parades. He has no authority to order the bomber wing to do anything, so each time he cancels the parade before anyone can protest. He does this because he loves parades and because his boss wants to take command of the air wing. Each time he orders a parade and cancels builds a perception he could order a parade. Trump’s doing the same thing. Or Hegseth, there seems to be some question about who ordered what.
The analogy in Catch 22 goes deeper. The Special Services colonel wants to take over the air wing, “If bombing the enemy isn’t a special service, what is?” He finally succeeds, he’s reassigned to command of the air wing. But in the meantime his campaign to put the air wing under Special Services succeeds, and he finds himself under the command of the new head of Special Services, Lieutenant, now General, Scheisskopf. Musk plays the role of the Colonel. He thought he bought control of the government, but it went sour on him. Leaving I have no idea who in actual charge, quite probably the Project 2025 guy, Russell Vought, Director of OMB.
@Steven L. Taylor: They may be correct given that their primary definition of “right” involves the ability to carry through on an action. They start with “the President has the moral authority” as an a priori assumption.
@gVOR10: More weirdly, the Guard is not subject to Posse Comitatus while on state active duty or under the governor’s control but federal call-up under Title 32. But this is a Title 10 activation to federal active duty, which makes them subject.
@Matt Bernius:
I’ve always assumed that it’s because we look for any justification we can find for layin’ the smack on those who we hold in disesteem. In my worldview, that principle applies across the spectrum, but if you’d rather go with “I’m/my side’s not like that,” go ahead.
This is inevitable. Please tell anyone in your circle that these people want a confrontation. There is no way to avoid it—well, other than by prostrating yourself with a MAGA hat on.
There are people that still believe they can deescalate and play a little nice to create some cover to go back to mostly business as usual. They are grossly deceived. If Americans had any knowledge of what happens outside of America in domestic conflict, they would recognize MAGA for what it is—a radical movement intent on civic dominance. Think ISIS, think the Houthis—but with less overt violence. The aim is the same—join or suffer.
Trump checked 2 objectives here: he gets this Elon feud off the front page, and he gets to bash Newsome nationally to weaken him politically.
How much grace did talking with Brannon get you Gavin? Lol
The key to defeating these groups is asymmetric response. Stop the protest, confront the Administration somewhere else, then restart the Protest when they are busy creating theater somewhere else. The Musk feud was gold, Dems should keep talking about it—and keep egging Musk on. It’s time for a new round of talking about prices and layoffs—which Dems should NEVER STOP TALKING ABOUT. The problem is they don’t have a faction whose sole focus is prices and employment—so the they can only message kitchen table for so long before one member of the coalition has to dominate the conversation their most important issue—which doesn’t win any attention span from the average American.
I care about immigrants, they would mostly prefer to stay in their country if they could. I’m glad America is a place where they can realize their dreams and contribute to our society. But we have lost control of this story. The play is agree that we need to kick of gangs and criminals (even if the number is negligence) while simultaneously highlighting every individual person who’s not a criminal or gangster who has been lured into these ridiculous drag nets. It’s time to put Homan in the news cycle—he’s been allowed to tap from behind Trumps leg with ever having to defend his activities.
It’s really this simple: When they drive the narrative, they are winning. When they respond to a narrative, they lose.
@JKB:
Do you have a source for this? The judicial warrants signed by judges bit that is. I’m sure you think physically blocking ICE and being attacked by ICE is protesters being violent.
I doubt Moran was unaware of the risk he was taking.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/06/08/terry-moran-suspend-abc-news-stephen-miller/84102786007/
@Jim X 32:
I expect the Republicans to try to push through the Trump Murder Budget (the Only Benefit Billionaires Bill?) while the news cycle is distracted.
@Jim X 32: Good luck with your ‘really simple’ master plan. I hope you convince somebody to implement it someday. Hell, I’ll settle for hope you try to get somebody to implement it. I’m easy to please.
@JKB:
No. This is incorrect.
That’s why officers are going to public places like court houses or home depot to make these arrests. And in many cases they are just doing sweeps without warrants.
For more details see: https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/ice_warrants_summary.pdf
Today’s video of an agent shooting an Australian TV reporter with her back turned to him and 30 yards away suggests ICE is at least equally responsible for any violence.
@Jim X 32:
Indeed.
All well and good, but there isn’t a switch that turns these things off and on.
The news cycle is a real thing, and it is reactive.
And do you think that, for example, Newsom should be talking about prices and layoffs at the moment? It is impossible for circumstances not to dictate what gets talked about. I am not defending Newsom, but do you see what I mean?
If Schumer is asked about LA should he ignore the question and talk about Musk?
@EddieInDR: “For months Andy told people like you and I that we were overreacting to the administration’s early actions and that we should wait until they do something really bad to react strongly.”
The road to fascism is lined with people saying that you are overreacting.
@Matt Bernius:
Need to add some additional context on the warrant thing. There were judicially approved search warrants at play in LA as well: