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United States. Army. National Guard

National Guard Troops Mobilized in Los Angeles Amid Civil Unrest

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Protests have been underway in the heavily Latino Paramount district of Los Angeles after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted raids, detaining up to 120 people. The situation escalated with violent clashes between authorities and demonstrators, with locals fearing the federal raids would lead to chaos. The city's mayor, Karen Bass, and California's Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the raids and the National Guard deployment, calling it a reckless and inflammatory move that would erode public trust.

Key Takeaways:

  • Approximately 300 National Guard soldiers were deployed in Los Angeles, with the majority stationed around the detention center in downtown LA.
  • The protests were sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Paramount district, which led to the detainment of up to 120 people.
  • The area's mayor, Peggy Lemons, expressed concern that the federal raids would lead to chaos and that community members were fearful of activity by immigration agents.
  • California's Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles's Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids and the National Guard deployment, describing it as a "wrong mission" and "deranged behavior".
  • US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's threat to send in the Marines added to fears that the federal response could push further toward a federal crackdown on dissent.
  • Civil rights groups and immigration advocates have expressed concerns that the federal response risks criminalizing entire communities and undermining trust in local and federal authorities.
  • President Donald Trump has been criticized for his handling of the situation, with some calling his decision to deploy the National Guard "reckless" and "inflammatory".

Statistics:

  • 300: The number of National Guard soldiers deployed in Los Angeles.
  • 120: The number of people detained in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
  • 80%: The percentage of Paramount's population that is Hispanic.
  • 90: The location of Camp Pendleton, where elite troops were placed on high alert at the request of President Trump.

Sources:

  • "Los Angeles civil unrest: National Guard troops mobilised as protests escalate" by The Independent
  • "Los Angeles erupts into chaos as ICE agents launch massive raids" by The Los Angeles Times
  • "Trump sends in National Guard to quell LA riots" by The New York Times
  • "California governor blasts Trump over National Guard deployment" by Reuters

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