Trump sends 2,000 National Guard troops to LA after immigration protests turn violent; Noem warns against repeat of 2020 riots.

Federal Response Aims to Stabilize Unrest Following Immigration Raids

President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles as immigration-related protests escalated into violent unrest. The move, confirmed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Sunday, is intended to restore public order and safeguard law enforcement amid growing tensions.

Appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Noem said the president acted decisively to prevent the violence from spiraling out of control. “President Trump is putting the safety of the communities being impacted by these riots and by these protests that have turned violent, and he’s putting the safety of our law enforcement officers first,” she stated.

The protests erupted in response to sweeping federal immigration raids in the Los Angeles area. Authorities reported that several of those detained last week had prior criminal convictions, including assault and drug offenses. Demonstrations, initially peaceful, grew in intensity and led to multiple acts of vandalism and confrontations with local police.

Noem asserted that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s failure to respond swiftly prompted Trump to act. “Gov. Newsom makes bad decisions,” she said, adding that the president was unwilling to wait for the state to “get some sanity.”

Governor Newsom responded critically to the deployment, suggesting that Trump’s actions were politically motivated. “It’s not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” he said, noting that the California Highway Patrol had already been dispatched to secure major highways in Los Angeles. Newsom also emphasized that state agencies were not assisting federal immigration operations.

Preventing a Repeat of 2020

Noem drew comparisons to the 2020 riots in Minneapolis, claiming that Democratic leadership had failed to act decisively in previous instances of civil unrest. She accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of delaying a National Guard request while “letting his city burn for days on end.”

“Gov. Tim Walz made very bad decisions,” she said, highlighting that his delayed response in 2020 became a political issue during former Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed campaign, when she selected Walz as her running mate.

The 2,000 troops deployed to Los Angeles are trained for crowd control and urban unrest. According to Noem, their mission includes protecting public buildings, assisting peaceful protesters, and providing security alongside local law enforcement. She declined to disclose specific deployment zones or operational details, citing security protocols.

“They’re there at the direction of the president in order to keep peace and allow people to be able to protest but also to keep law and order,” Noem said. “That is incredibly important to the president.”

As the situation continues to unfold, federal and state officials remain divided over the scope and intent of the military presence. While the administration insists the deployment is for public safety, critics argue that it reflects a broader political narrative ahead of legislative efforts on immigration reform.