Politics & Government

27 Images Show Tense Moments As CA Immigration Protests Turned Destructive

Immigration protests in Los Angeles turned violent as President Trump deployed National Guard troops. See photos from the weekend.

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Maribel Parra screams as protesters confront a line of police near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest.
Maribel Parra screams as protesters confront a line of police near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

LOS ANGELES, CA-- At least 300 California National Guard troops were deployed by President Trump over the weekend over the objections of state and local leaders in response to immigration protests in Los Angeles. The soldiers' presence in downtown LA further exacerbated a tense situation, and violence broke out resulting in several arrests, burning cars, some looting and the use of tear gas and flash bang ammunition.

It's not the first time Trump has activated the National Guard. In 2020, Trump asked governors to respond to demonstrations in Washington DC after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The governors that refused to send troops were allowed to do so and keep their resources on home soil.

However, this time Trump is acting in opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom, who would normally retain control and command of California's National Guard. While Trump said that federalizing the troops was necessary to “address the lawlessness” in California, the Democratic governor said the move was “purposely inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.”

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Since the troops have been deployed, many protestors have been injured in the clashes. Governor Newsom said he planned to file a lawsuit Monday against President Trump in response to the administration's National Guard deployment.

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See photos below from the protests in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Members of the California National Guard FIre Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets At Protesters. (Daniel Powell/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Tear gas fills the street as protesters confront Border Patrol personnel during a demonstration over the dozens detained in an operation by federal immigration authorities a day earlier, in Paramount, Calif., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Protesters continue to gather late into the night in downtown Los Angeles, demanding an end to recent federal immigration raids and the deployment of National Guard troops. (Matthew Hoen/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Protesters block the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles on the third day of protests against ICE and Trump's immigration policy. (Jonathan Alcorn/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Protesters block the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles on the third day of protests against ICE and Trump's immigration policy. (Jonathan Alcorn/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Waymo self driving taxis burn in downtown Los Angeles on the third day of protests against ICE and Donald Trump's immigration policy. (Jonathan Alcorn/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
People take cover as a fire work explodes during a protest near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A woman waves the Mexican flag as flames erupt from a burning dumpster. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., speaks to the U.S. National Guard in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Officers make their way down a ramp to the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Matt Hobbs uses milk after being teargassed near the Metropolitan Detention Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A protester leaps off a burning Waymo taxi. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
A police officer's face is covered in pepper spray outside the Metropolitan Detention Center. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)
A police officer fires a soft round in the crowd. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Protesters are seen on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Multiple Waymo taxis burn near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Demonstrators rally in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
APTOPIX Immigration Raids Los Angeles (AP)
Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Protesters take cover behind chairs near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Law enforcement officers push back demonstrators rallying outside a U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement office on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Police are lined up on the 101 freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A protester is seen as two Waymo taxis burn near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. National Guard are deployed outside the federal prison in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following a immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

Demonstrators rally against U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement raids in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Willow Thomas demonstrates against U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement raids in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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