Los Angeles descended into chaos for a third consecutive night Monday as violent protests over federal immigration enforcement prompted President Donald Trump to authorize an unprecedented deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops, marking the first time since the 1960s that a president has activated the guard without gubernatorial consent, while 500 Marines remain on standby.
The dramatic escalation began after Trump declared that Los Angeles had been "invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals," ordering Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to "liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots."
Video: Australian 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi struck by police rubber bullets in LA. Credit: Reuters
Downtown Los Angeles erupted into violent confrontations as hundreds of protesters battled police with fireworks, stones, and burning vehicles. Officers responded with tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets while autonomous Google vehicles were torched in the streets. The chaos forced police to declare all of downtown an "unlawful assembly" – a significant expansion from earlier restrictions limited to the federal detention center area.
Highway 101, the vital artery connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco, suffered extended blockades by protesters, with some lanes remaining closed due to debris. The violence reached international attention when Australian 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by police rubber bullets during a live television broadcast.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who had previously opposed National Guard deployment, acknowledged that Monday's violence warranted "reassessment" after reporting 10 new arrests to add to the 29 from Saturday and dozens from Friday.
The confrontation intensified when California Governor Gavin Newsom directly challenged Trump's authority, declaring the military deployment "illegal" and formally demanding its cancellation. In a defiant MSNBC interview, Newsom accused Trump of manufacturing the crisis while issuing a direct challenge to "immigration czar" Tom Homan, saying, "Tom, arrest me. Let's get started." He characterized Trump's actions as those of "a dictator, not a president."
Trump, speaking from Camp David, branded the protesters "violent paid insurgents" while the FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information about suspects who injured officers. Of the 2,000 troops authorized, approximately 300 from the 79th Guard Brigade are already operational, according to the governor's office, while US Northern Command confirmed 500 Marines are in "on high alert."
The unprecedented federal intervention has drawn international attention, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has attempted to maintain diplomatic relations with Trump, stating that "we won't solve the immigration problem with raids and violence." Mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence while blaming Trump for creating "completely unnecessary chaos."
The crisis represents the sharpest test yet of the power struggle between Trump's immigration enforcement agenda and sanctuary cities like Los Angeles that refuse federal cooperation. The president had pledged during his campaign to force such cities into compliance with federal immigration laws, setting the stage for this historic confrontation between federal authority and local resistance.
