AhlulBayt News Agency: California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles during protests against immigration raids, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced.
The deployment, ordered by former President Donald Trump, followed violent clashes in downtown Los Angeles. Police attempted to disperse protesters after incidents of vandalism and looting.
On Sunday, demonstrations escalated as protesters set several vehicles on fire, including five Waymo self-driving cars, and looted stores.
Law enforcement responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Trump described the protests as an “insurrection” and justified deploying National Guard troops, calling the unrest “violent, instigated riots.”
He further claimed that Los Angeles would have been “obliterated” without federal intervention, warning that those who disrespected security forces would be “hit harder than ever before.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment, accusing Trump of fueling tensions. “This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He fanned the flames,” Newsom said, announcing the state’s lawsuit against the federal government. Trump dismissed the criticism, even suggesting that Newsom should be arrested.
The protests were triggered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests targeting individuals accused of illegal migration and gang affiliations.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, defended the raids, claiming they focused on cartel members from Mexico and Colombia. However, many locals, including 64-year-old Deborah McCurdy, argued that the detained individuals were just people striving to improve their lives, undeserving of being treated as criminals.
By Monday morning, downtown Los Angeles had largely calmed, though police presence remained heavy. Mayor Karen Bass downplayed the unrest, saying it was limited to a few streets and did not reflect chaos across the city.
Bass criticized the immigration arrests and troop deployment as a deliberate provocation, calling the move "a recipe for pandemonium."
The United Nations warned against further militarization of the situation, a statement expected to frustrate the White House. Local law enforcement, taking control after initial federal intervention, used “less lethal” methods to disperse crowds.
A viral video captured the moment a rubber bullet struck an Australian TV reporter in the leg during a live broadcast. Over two days, 56 arrests were made in Los Angeles, and five officers suffered minor injuries. In San Francisco, another 60 protesters were detained.
The deployment of the National Guard marked the first time since 1965 that a president had overridden a state governor’s authority in such a manner.
The decision drew harsh criticism from Democrats, including Kamala Harris, who called it “a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the violence, urging Mexicans living in the US to remain peaceful and avoid provocations.
Despite the turmoil, Los Angeles schools and daily life remained largely unaffected on Monday.
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