US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles following escalating unrest in the city over a series of raids targeting undocumented migrants.

Federal officials say the move is intended to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have faced resistance in predominantly Latino areas such as the Paramount district, where clashes erupted over the weekend. Tear gas and batons were used to disperse protesters, with local authorities confirming multiple arrests.

ICE’s operations this week have resulted in 118 arrests across the city, including 44 on Friday alone. California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the federal raids as “cruel” and held a 40-minute phone call with President Trump on Saturday, though no further details of their discussion were released.

A White House statement accused state leaders of failing to protect law enforcement and described the deployment as necessary to curb what it called “an invasion of illegal criminals.” It added that Trump signed a presidential memorandum to authorise the troop mobilisation.

Tom Homan, the administration’s border security adviser, said the decision was about making Los Angeles safer, adding that the National Guard was being brought in immediately. He warned that there would be “zero tolerance” for violence or damage to property.

Tensions remain high in the Paramount area, with residents and protesters reporting that some migrants are sheltering inside local businesses, afraid to emerge. The area is home to a population that is more than 80% Hispanic.

Federal authorities, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have defended the crackdown and criticised remarks made by local officials. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino warned protesters that “law and order will prevail,” while Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth confirmed that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were on high alert in case further escalation is needed.

Despite the federal mobilisation, the Los Angeles Police Department said that demonstrations remained largely peaceful on Saturday and that it was ready to respond to any unrest.

Governor Newsom, however, described the federal intervention as “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would only heighten tensions. He argued that state and local officials are fully capable of maintaining order without federal overreach.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused ICE of “sowing terror” in the city. Her comments were met with sharp rebukes from federal agencies, who say such rhetoric puts their agents at risk.

Immigration rights advocates also voiced their concerns. Angelica Salas, head of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, said at a recent rally that migrant communities were being “terrorised” and called for an end to the operations.

President Trump has maintained that the federal government will act decisively if state leaders fail to control what he characterised as “riots and looters.”

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