Los Angeles Unrest Escalates as Trump Sends National Guard for Immigration Enforcement

Tensions soared in Los Angeles on Sunday as a large number of demonstrators flooded the streets in reaction to President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to deploy the National Guard. Activists blocked a major freeway and set self-driving vehicles ablaze while law enforcement resorted to tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbangs to manage the unrest. The evening saw many protesters disperse after police deemed the assembly unlawful. Centered in downtown Los Angeles, these protests marked the third and most intense day of opposition against Trump’s immigration policies, incited by the arrival of approximately 300 National Guard troops, triggering alarm among local residents. In a letter sent Sunday afternoon, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom urged Trump to withdraw the troops, expressing that their deployment represented a "serious breach of state sovereignty." This intervention marked an unprecedented moment, as it was reportedly the first instance in decades where a state's National Guard was activated without gubernatorial consent, elevating tensions surrounding the administration's immigration enforcement strategies.