Donald Trump pledged during his campaign to combat what he termed left-wing lawlessness using presidential powers. Saturday night’s protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in California provided an opportunity to act on that promise.
The demonstrations targeted ICE activities, with the Los Angeles Police Department characterizing them as largely peaceful. However, more disruptive incidents involved several hundred participants according to police reports.
Trump administration officials stated that immigration agents faced targeting and injuries, criticizing local law enforcement response times as inadequate.
“Waiting several hours for LAPD to show up – or them telling us that they’re not going to back us up until they have an officer in a dangerous situation – is something that just isn’t workable when you have violent protests going on,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirsty Noem told CBS News Sunday.
The LAPD responded that it “acted as swiftly as conditions safely allowed” and began crowd dispersal within 55 minutes of receiving the initial call.
Despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, Trump federalized 2,000 California National Guard soldiers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that US Marines were on “high alert” for potential deployment, representing a rare consideration of active duty military use on domestic soil.
By Sunday morning, Trump declared victory and credited the National Guard with restoring peace, though the guard had not yet fully assembled.
The rapid response indicates the administration’s preparedness for such confrontations. White House officials view law and order messaging alongside aggressive immigration enforcement as politically advantageous positions.
These actions may energize Trump’s core supporters while potentially appealing to independents concerned about public safety issues.
Noem referenced the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Minnesota, stating they spread without adequate response, contrasting with the current administration’s approach.
“We’re not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen,” she said.
Democratic officials have criticized the administration’s tactics, particularly the use of masked immigration officers with military equipment conducting arrests in civilian locations like restaurants and shops. They argue the president’s military deployment readiness was excessive.
“For the president to do this when it wasn’t requested, breaking with generations of tradition, is only going to incite the situation and make things worse,” said New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.
“A lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law.”
The United States historically experiences an increase in protest activity during the summer months, with the peak typically occurring in early June. Five months into Trump’s second term, these California events may represent an isolated incident or potentially signal broader civil unrest ahead.
About the author
ABC News Fires Veteran Journalist After Calling Trump World Class Hater
ABC News has terminated veteran journalist Terry Moran following his suspension over a social media post that labeled President Donald Trump and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as "world-class haters." The network announced Tuesday that Moran's quickly deleted X post constituted "a clear violation of ABC News policies." ABC stated that while Moran's contract was already set to expire, the network decided against renewal "based on his recent post." The Sunday night post primarily targeted Miller, whom Moran characterized as "the brains behind Trumpism." Moran wrote that Miller "is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred" and called him "a world-class hater." He also applied the same description to Trump, though he suggested Trump's hatred served merely as "a means to an end" for "his own glorification." Regarding Miller specifically, Moran stated that "his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. […]
LA Police Make Mass Arrests As Curfew Imposed During Immigration Protest Crisis
Los Angeles police conducted mass arrests following the implementation of a curfew in downtown areas as protests continued against President Trump's immigration enforcement operations. The Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday evening that arrests were underway after groups gathered within the designated curfew zone. "Multiple groups continue to congregate on 1st St between Spring and Alameda," the LAPD posted on social media. "Those groups are being addressed and mass arrests are being initiated." While many protesters later dispersed, sporadic confrontations persisted. Officials justified the curfew as necessary to prevent vandalism and theft by those seeking to cause disruption. Mayor Karen Bass established the curfew covering one square mile of downtown Los Angeles, effective from 8pm Tuesday to 6am Wednesday. Bass indicated the measure would likely continue for several days but emphasized it applied only to a small section of the […]
US and China Reach Major Trade Breakthrough After Intense London Talks
The United States and China have established a "framework" on trade following two days of negotiations in London designed to reduce tensions between the world's largest economies. While details of the framework announced Tuesday remain unclear, the development represents progress following Washington and Beijing's announcement of a 90-day tariff pause after Geneva talks last month. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reported that both sides worked to implement the "Geneva consensus" and had "pounded through" all major issues dividing the two nations. The framework requires approval from President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who discussed trade in a 90-minute phone call last week, before moving forward. "Once the presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it," Lutnick told reporters outside Lancaster House. Lutnick suggested that US measures responding to China's slowdown in rare earth exports, a significant […]
Elon Musk Finally Apologizes After Epic Trump Feud Goes Nuclear
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly expressed regret over his recent criticisms of President Donald Trump following their highly publicized dispute. "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week," Musk wrote on his social media platform X early Wednesday. "They went too far." The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who recently stepped down from his position leading the Department of Government Efficiency, did not identify which specific criticisms prompted his apology. Musk's regret follows a series of aggressive attacks against Trump, including an unverified allegation that the administration withheld Jeffrey Epstein files to protect Trump from potential connections to the deceased financier and convicted sex offender. The conflict erupted after Musk, previously one of Trump's most influential supporters during his campaign and early presidency, publicly opposed Trump's comprehensive legislative package last week. Musk condemned what he called the […]
Chinese Man Shipped Weapons to North Korea While Living Illegally in US
A Chinese national residing illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to illegally exporting firearms, ammunition and military equipment to North Korea under direction from Pyongyang, according to the US Department of Justice. Shenghua Wen, 42, of Ontario, California, admitted to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, the Justice Department announced Monday. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, enacted in 1977, grants the president authority to restrict commerce with countries for national security reasons. According to prosecutors, Wen shipped at least three containers of firearms destined for North Korea in 2023. One container successfully reached Nampo, North Korea, via Hong Kong. To execute the operation, Wen purchased a firearms business in Houston, Texas, and used fraudulent paperwork to conceal the actual contents of his shipping containers, […]
Canada Announces Historic Military Spending Surge To Break Free From US Dependence
Canada has announced plans to significantly expand its military capabilities and reduce defense dependency on the United States through a comprehensive security investment strategy. Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the new security investment plan Monday, proposing over $9 billion in additional military funding this fiscal year. The investment would enable Canada to meet NATO's 2% defense spending target five years earlier than previously planned. "I call on all parties in Parliament to support these critical investments in our security and sovereignty. Our plan will help ensure that Canada is strong at home and reliable abroad," Carney stated. "We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America. We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic." The investments […]
Related
Northern Ireland Minister Faces Standards Investigation After Larne Leisure Centre Fire
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons will be referred to the standards commissioner following events surrounding a fire at Larne Leisure Centre amid ongoing civil unrest in Northern Ireland. The referral follows social media posts made by Lyons before the fire, in which he disclosed that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate individuals relocated from Ballymena following disturbances in that town, located approximately 30 minutes away. Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, announced his intention to refer the minister to the commissioner, stating that the minister's actions "cannot be ignored" and that "lives are at stake." On Wednesday, Lyons expressed concern about the decision-making process, stating, "As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware of or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon." The minister […]
Beach Boys Co-Founder Brian Wilson Dies at 82; Bandmates and Music Icons Pay Tribute
Brian Wilson, the co-founding member and primary creative force behind The Beach Boys, passed away at age 82, prompting an outpouring of tributes from surviving bandmates and fellow musicians worldwide. Wilson's cousin and Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love, 84, honored Wilson's legacy in a detailed Facebook post, describing his "unmatched musical gifts." Love characterized Wilson as "fragile, intense, funny," and "one of a kind," noting that his music "allowed us to show the world what vulnerability and brilliance sound like in harmony." "The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every noteโBrian changed the course of music forever," Love wrote, acknowledging both the musical partnership and family relationship they shared. "Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what […]
ABC News Fires Veteran Journalist After Calling Trump World Class Hater
ABC News has terminated veteran journalist Terry Moran following his suspension over a social media post that labeled President Donald Trump and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as "world-class haters." The network announced Tuesday that Moran's quickly deleted X post constituted "a clear violation of ABC News policies." ABC stated that while Moran's contract was already set to expire, the network decided against renewal "based on his recent post." The Sunday night post primarily targeted Miller, whom Moran characterized as "the brains behind Trumpism." Moran wrote that Miller "is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred" and called him "a world-class hater." He also applied the same description to Trump, though he suggested Trump's hatred served merely as "a means to an end" for "his own glorification." Regarding Miller specifically, Moran stated that "his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. […]
LA Police Make Mass Arrests As Curfew Imposed During Immigration Protest Crisis
Los Angeles police conducted mass arrests following the implementation of a curfew in downtown areas as protests continued against President Trump's immigration enforcement operations. The Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday evening that arrests were underway after groups gathered within the designated curfew zone. "Multiple groups continue to congregate on 1st St between Spring and Alameda," the LAPD posted on social media. "Those groups are being addressed and mass arrests are being initiated." While many protesters later dispersed, sporadic confrontations persisted. Officials justified the curfew as necessary to prevent vandalism and theft by those seeking to cause disruption. Mayor Karen Bass established the curfew covering one square mile of downtown Los Angeles, effective from 8pm Tuesday to 6am Wednesday. Bass indicated the measure would likely continue for several days but emphasized it applied only to a small section of the […]
US and China Reach Major Trade Breakthrough After Intense London Talks
The United States and China have established a "framework" on trade following two days of negotiations in London designed to reduce tensions between the world's largest economies. While details of the framework announced Tuesday remain unclear, the development represents progress following Washington and Beijing's announcement of a 90-day tariff pause after Geneva talks last month. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reported that both sides worked to implement the "Geneva consensus" and had "pounded through" all major issues dividing the two nations. The framework requires approval from President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who discussed trade in a 90-minute phone call last week, before moving forward. "Once the presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it," Lutnick told reporters outside Lancaster House. Lutnick suggested that US measures responding to China's slowdown in rare earth exports, a significant […]
Elon Musk Finally Apologizes After Epic Trump Feud Goes Nuclear
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly expressed regret over his recent criticisms of President Donald Trump following their highly publicized dispute. "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week," Musk wrote on his social media platform X early Wednesday. "They went too far." The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who recently stepped down from his position leading the Department of Government Efficiency, did not identify which specific criticisms prompted his apology. Musk's regret follows a series of aggressive attacks against Trump, including an unverified allegation that the administration withheld Jeffrey Epstein files to protect Trump from potential connections to the deceased financier and convicted sex offender. The conflict erupted after Musk, previously one of Trump's most influential supporters during his campaign and early presidency, publicly opposed Trump's comprehensive legislative package last week. Musk condemned what he called the […]
Be the first to leave a comment