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Los Angeles erupts as Trump deploys military to quell pro-immigrant protests. California’s governor files a historic legal challenge.

10 Jun 2025 2 min

Tensions in Los Angeles peaked after U.S. President Donald Trump deployed thousands of National Guard members and hundreds of Marines to suppress pro-immigrant demonstrations erupting downtown. This move immediately triggered a wave of protests—not just from activists and local residents, but also from the California state government. Governor Gavin Newsom responded by filing a federal lawsuit against Trump, accusing the president of violating state sovereignty.

The unrest began when federal agents and city police conducted large-scale immigration raids at key locations. What started as peaceful protests quickly escalated into clashes after police used tear gas and tactical crowd dispersal measures. Protesters demanded the protection of immigrant rights and rejected Trump’s increasingly hardline immigration policies.

Within two days, demonstrations spread to areas such as Compton and Paramount. Protesters set vehicles ablaze and hurled rocks at police, forcing the closure of major roads like Interstate 101 for public safety. Even autonomous vehicle services like Waymo had to halt operations due to the chaos.

As the situation spiraled, Trump issued an order to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops under Title 10, bypassing Governor Newsom’s consent. Shortly after, 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms base were sent, bringing the total number of federal personnel in Los Angeles to over 4,100. Analysts and officials called this an unprecedented expansion of presidential power—one not seen since the civil rights era of the 1960s.

Trump defended the move as necessary to restore order, labeling protesters as “paid insurrectionists.” He threatened to send even more troops should unrest spill into other cities.

Governor Gavin Newsom, joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, strongly condemned Trump’s move. They filed a lawsuit in the San Francisco district court, arguing the deployment was a violation of federal law and state rights. Newsom called Trump’s action an “authoritarian tactic” and a “manufactured crisis” that threatened Californians’ constitutional rights.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass asserted that most protests remained peaceful, rejected federal military intervention, and accused the federal government of politicizing city security.

Legally, using Title 10 to deploy the National Guard without coordination via the Insurrection Act is highly controversial. Experts warn it could jeopardize the balance of power between federal and state governments. Many military veterans see the move as a threat to the reputation of the U.S. armed forces and the tradition of civilian-military relations.

This open conflict between federal and California state authorities highlights deepening U.S. political tensions, especially over immigration. Human rights issues have taken center stage, with Latin American leaders showing solidarity. Mexico’s president openly condemned violence against demonstrators.

During the unrest, more than 70 people—including prominent activists—were arrested. At least three people, including two journalists, were injured. Symbols of solidarity spread to major U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Boston, and Portland, underlining the wide-reaching social and political impact of the Los Angeles crisis.

Trump’s military deployment, along with Governor Newsom’s lawsuit, has ushered in a new chapter in the history of federal-state relations in the United States. This conflict has ignited debate over executive power, immigrant rights, and constitutional protections during times of social crisis.