National Guard troops in Los Angeles clashed with demonstators in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, after being sent there by President Donald Trump to stamp out a series of protests that have broken out against federal immigration authorities.

The City of Los Angeles went on tactical alert, the Los Angeles Police Department announced shortly after 2:30 p.m., with all available personnel working and in a heightened state of readiness.

Videos on social media showed California National Guard troops with riot shields pushing protestors into the streets, as well as tear gas being deployed and less-than-lethal rounds exploding in the roadway. By mid-afternoon, a massive crowd was filling the streets in Downtown Los Angeles.

Some streets in the area were closed to traffic and DASH bus lines were skipping stops.

The LAPD declared the anti-ICE demonstration downtown as an unlawful activity, telling hundreds of protesters to leave the area or be subject to arrests.

Trump said he would deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles — over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“These radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why??? Again, thank you to the National Guard for a job well done!” Trump posted on social media late Saturday night.

The Presidential Memorandum posted Saturday on the White House website ordered the deployment of the National Guard in light of “numerous incidents of violence and disorder [which] … threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws.”

The order states, in part that “The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.

” In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion.”

Newsom blasted the move in a fundraising email sent out Sunday morning.

“Last night, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, using the excuse of protests against his immigration raids. Let me be totally clear about what is happening here. We have been working closely with law enforcement. There is no unmet need. The president is attempting to inflame passions and provoke a response,” Newsom wrote.

“He would like nothing more than for this provocative show of force — and Pete Hegseth’s absurd threat to deploy United States Marines on American soil — to escalate tensions and incite violence.”

Republicans, however, saw it differently.

“Only one party supports this lawlessness, the same party that allowed millions of people to invade our borders,” the Los Angeles County Republican Party posted on X. “The only way to peace now is through enforcing the law, both state and federal, and anyone that hinders or opposes this will face the consequences.”

Troops arrived at downtown’s Federal Building around 4 a.m. Sunday.

@TheCalGuard 79th IBCT has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They are conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel,” the U.S. Northern Command posted at 9:07 a.m.

“The National Guard is present and actively protecting federal assets in Los Angeles,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. “Anyone thinking about showing up to damage federal property or to assault our agents, think again.”

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.”

LA Mayor Karen Bass said she spoke to high-level officials in the Trump administration, including “border czar” Tom Holman, before the Guard was deployed, and “expressed to them that things were not out of control in the city of Los Angeles. Paramount has some issues, but I doubt very seriously that there’s a need for the National Guard there either.”

Bass said she told Holman, “If you want there to be chaos, then have troops on the ground when there is absolutely no need for that to happen.”

In a signal of the administration’s aggressive approach, however, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also 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 that area, with several hundred demonstrators gathered near a doughnut shop, and authorities holding up barbed wire to keep the crowd back.

Crowds also gathered again outside federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, including a detention center, where local police declared an unlawful assembly and began to arrest people.

The Homeland Security Department on Sunday identified six of the people who were detained in raids Friday and Saturday:

• Jose Cristobal Hernandez-Buitron, 43, a citizen of Peru who allegedly has a criminal history that includes a conviction for robbery that resulted in a 10-year sentence.
• Chrissahdah Tooy, 48, a citizen of Indonesia, who allegedly has convictions for narcotics, driving under the influence and illegal entry.
• Jordan Mauricio Meza-Esquibel, 32, a citizen of Honduras, who allegedly has arrests for distribution of heroin and cocaine and domestic violence.
• Francisco Sanchez-Arguello, 38, a citizen of Mexico, who allegedly has arrests for grand theft larceny and possession of a prohibited weapon.
• Cuong Chanh Phan, 49, a citizen of Vietnam, who allegedly has a conviction for second-degree murder for which he was sentenced to 15 years to life.
• Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, a citizen of the Philippines, who allegedly has convictions for theft, assault, burglary and rape.

Anti-ICE protests also took place in Long Beach and Pasadena on Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, a growing march of about 150 people along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena was accompanied by the din on supportive honks.

Marchers wielded handmade signs demanding “ICE out of Dena.” Marchers said some local hotels in the city were housing ICE agents during the duration of the federal operation.

“It is shameful,” said Hector Agredano, as he exhorted supporters at the corner of Madison Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. “It is humiliating. We are not going to stand for this. Get out of L.A. Get out of town.”

One marcher, who only gave his name as Peter, said his nearby home was destroyed by the Eaton fire. In the aftermath, immigrant laborers helped him and his neighborhood recover and clean up.

“These people are our neighbors,” he said. “They help each other out.”

Said another marcher who gave his name as Caro: “It’s supposed to be a sanctuary city. Where’s the mayor? Why isn’t he here?”

The scene became defiantly festive as banda musicians played loudly and people danced, still holding their protest signs.

Another demonstration is planned for 7 p.m. on Sunday, when interfaith leaders from across Los Angeles County will gather for a candlelight vigil at LA City Hall to call for an “end to the violence of immigration raids, and the protection of immigrant families in LA County.”

This is a developing story. Please watch for updates.

The Associate Press, City News Service and Staff Writers Ryan Carter, Sean Emery and Mona Darwish contributed to this report.

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