National Guard troops arrive in Los Angeles as immigration protests turn violent

Hundreds of California National Guard troops converged on Los Angeles on Sunday after President Donald Trump deployed them to help address violent clashes that have erupted between demonstrators and authorities over immigration enforcement operations there.

The National Guard troops began arriving in Los Angeles early Sunday morning as the city braced for violence to continue over raids the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted in the second-largest city in the nation on Friday.

"We are not intimidated or apprehensive," FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on Sunday morning in a post on X. "Illegal immigration operations will continue, and anyone using violence to obstruct or impede these operations will be investigated and prosecuted."

President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Saturday authorizing the deployment of "2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness" in Los Angeles stemming from protests over the ICE operations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office told ABC News on Sunday that about 300 National Guard troops are on the ground in Los Angeles, far fewer than the 2,000 troops the Trump administration said had been activated.

The U.S. Northern Command confirmed on Sunday that National Guard troops are on the ground in Los Angeles, posting on X that the California National Guard 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (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 post added.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Saturday threatened to send in active duty Marines to address what he described in a post on X as a "huge national security risk."

The Los Angeles Police Department said eleven people were arrested during protests on Saturday. At least 22 demonstrators were arrested in New York City during protests outside the Manhattan federal courthouse, according to the New York Police Department.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is “not concerned at all” over President Donald Trump's order to send 2,000 National Guard troops to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles.

“I think the president did exactly what he needed to do,” Johnson told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday. “That is real leadership and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it.”

ICE agents rounded up more than 40 people across Los Angeles who allegedly violated immigration laws, federal authorities said. As word of the raids filtered into the community, protesters gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles, demanding their release. Police declared an unlawful assembly, warning protesters they risked being arrested if they remained in the area.

Officers in riot gear, according to witnesses, tossed tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. The LAPD said a "small group of violent individuals" responded by throwing large pieces of concrete at police.

Violence continued at a protest on Saturday that was centered in the city of Paramount in Los Angeles County, following false reports of an immigration raid occurring at that location.

The protest came after federal agents on Friday raided multiple workplaces in the Los Angeles fashion district and other areas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, leading to multiple people, including children, being detained by ICE agents at the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, the ACLU said.

Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons said during a news conference that ICE agents were staging in her city on Saturday, not conducting a raid, when violence broke out.

During the clashes between protesters and police, multiple people were seen looting a gas station store in Paramount.

Violence over the ICE activity also spread to Compton on Saturday, where more protesters gathered and a car burst into flames on a street. The fire department put the blaze out. It was unclear how the fire started.

“I think the president did exactly what he needed to do," House Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News' "This Week" on Sunday, referring to Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles. “That is real leadership and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it.”

In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard, saying, "In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens."

Videos of the protests on Saturday showed Border Patrol agents posted up with many protesters across the street, yelling at them. Footage appears to show some smoke projectiles being deployed as well.

In a statement on social media, United States Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks said several arrests had been made Saturday for alleged assaults on federal agents.

On Saturday, Gov. Newsom said the federal government was moving to "take over the California National Guard," calling the move "purposefully inflammatory" and saying it will "only escalate tensions."

Newsom said local California authorities don't need the help.

"LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice," Newsom said in a post on X. "We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said its personnel responded to Paramount Boulevard in Paramount on Saturday due to a large crowd blocking the street.

"As deputies arrived, it appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest. The Sheriff's Department was not involved in any federal law enforcement operations or actions and responded solely for traffic and crowd control management," the sheriff's department said in a statement Saturday.

FBI Deputy Director Bongino said authorities were seeking to identify people who threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles.

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U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal law enforcement operations would proceed as planned in Los Angeles County this weekend.

"I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions. Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution," he said.

The LA County Sheriff's Department said its personnel responded to Paramount Boulevard Saturday, where a large crowd was blocking the street.

"As deputies arrived, it appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest. The Sheriff's Department was not involved in any federal law enforcement operations or actions and responded solely for traffic and crowd control management," the sheriff's department said in a statement Saturday.

The sheriff's department said it does not participate in any civil immigration enforcement activities or mass deportation sweeps.

We remind the public to exercise their right to protest peacefully, with respect for the safety of all community members. Our primary responsibility is to ensure public safety for all individuals present—both demonstrators, residents, and bystanders—by addressing potential safety concerns while supporting the safe and lawful expression of First Amendment rights," the sheriff's department said.

The response to the two days of protests has local and federal officials pointing fingers.

In a statement Saturday, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons faulted local officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, and police for their response to the situation on Friday evening.

"What took place in Los Angeles yesterday was appalling," Lyons said. "As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement."

Lyons' statement went on to say: "Our brave officers were vastly outnumbered, as over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building. It took over two hours for the Los Angeles Police Department to respond, despite being called multiple times. The brave men and women of ICE were in Los Angeles arresting criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers and those with a history of assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and smuggling.

The LAPD issued a statement later on Saturday denying the ICE director's claims, saying its response was delayed, in part, because federal authorities had deployed chemical irritants into the crowd of protesters.

"Contrary to the claim that LAPD delayed its response for over two hours, our personnel mobilized and acted as swiftly as conditions safely allowed," the statement said. "Our response time was impacted by significant traffic congestion, the presence of demonstrators, and, notably, by the fact that federal agents had deployed irritants into the crowd prior to LAPD’s arrival. This created a hazardous environment for responding officers. Within 55 minutes of receiving the call, we began to disperse the hostile and riotous crowd."

Large crowds first began gathering near the federal detention center in Downtown LA Friday afternoon, protesting the immigration raids and leading to some reported clashes with authorities. Some protesters could be seen throwing objects at vehicles, and others tried to block vans from leaving on Friday, KABC reported.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly, warning protesters they risked being arrested if they remained in the area. LAPD officers were seen lining the streets near the federal building, KABC reported.

The LAPD said in a social media post late Friday that officers had reported a "small group of violent individuals" throwing large pieces of concrete.

"Once again, an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared. You must leave the area. The use of less lethal munitions has been authorized by the Incident Commander," the LAPD said in the post.

Bass has condemned the ICE operations in her city.

"As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. My Office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this," Bass said.

Bass told ABC Los Angeles station KABC that neither she nor the Los Angeles Police Department was aware that the ICE raids were going to happen.

On Saturday, protests in the city of LA itself remained peaceful and ended without incident, the LAPD said in a statement.

In a statement posted to social media later Saturday, Bass said many in the city are feeling fear following the immigration enforcement operations, but she also decried violence.

"Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning. We’ve been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but let me be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable."

-ABC News' Luis Martinez, Michelle Stoddart, Luke Barr and Vanessa Navarrete contributed to this report.