National Guard Sent to LA as Immigration Protests Turn Violent

Photo : AP

What began as peaceful anger over immigration raids in Los Angeles turned into a major clash by Sunday. The third day of protests saw streets in chaos—self-driving cars were burned, a main highway was blocked, and more than 120 people were arrested.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop the crowds. Things got more serious when President Donald Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, even though California Governor Gavin Newsom said it wasn’t needed.

What is the US National Guard?
The US National Guard is a military group made up of part-time soldiers. Every US state has its own National Guard. The state governor can call them in for help during emergencies like wildfires, floods, or protests. The President can also use them during national emergencies or even send them overseas.

There are two types of National Guard forces—Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Together, they have over 430,000 people. The Guard works under two systems:

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Title 32 – controlled by the governor

Title 10 – controlled by the President

Why Did Trump Send Troops to LA?
President Trump sent in the National Guard because of the growing protests that began after immigration officers carried out surprise raids at different places across the city, including shops and warehouses.

Trump said the situation was getting out of control and he wanted to stop the violence. He used his powers to take charge of the National Guard without asking for permission from Governor Newsom, which is normally required.

“We won’t let our country fall apart,” Trump said.

What Are the Troops Doing?
The National Guard troops are not directly fighting with protesters or making arrests. Their main job is to protect immigration officers and important federal buildings. One of those buildings is a detention center where some of the arrested immigrants were taken.

Reports say some protesters threw rocks and concrete at federal agents, damaged cars, and even set several self-driving cars on fire. Police had to use tear gas, rubber bullets, and loud flash devices to push the crowds back. Officials say the protests are becoming dangerous and may even involve organized crime groups. The Guard is now guarding federal buildings to stop further attacks.

Law professor Steve Vladeck said, “These troops are just standing guard. They won’t do anything that immigration officers couldn’t do themselves.”

Is This Legal?
There’s an old law called the Insurrection Act that lets the President send troops during big emergencies. But Trump didn’t use that law this time.

Instead, he used a different rule that allows him to take control of state National Guard troops in special situations. Normally, he would need to inform the state’s governor first, but Trump skipped that part.

Governor Newsom criticized this move and said it would only make things worse.

Has This Happened Before?
Yes, there have been other times in US history when troops were sent into cities:

• In 1957, President Eisenhower sent troops to help end school segregation in Arkansas.
• In 1992, President George H.W. Bush sent troops to stop riots in LA after the Rodney King case.
• In 2020, Trump also used the National Guard to control protests in Washington D.C. after George Floyd’s death.

But what makes this time different is that Trump sent the troops even though the governor of California said no. That’s what makes the situation more unusual and legally unclear.