This week, after the Department of Homeland Security’s widespread crackdown on the immigrant community in Los Angeles, federal officials were mobilizing around 2,000 National Guard soldiers to respond to the protest.
The White House confirmed Saturday that President Donald Trump had signed an order to deploy 2,000 national security guards to deal with “lawlessness.”
“The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy against criminal activity and violence, especially when the violence is intended for the law enforcement officers who are trying to do their job,” White House press director Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Recently, violent mobs attacked ice officials and federal law enforcement agencies running basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California.
These operations are essential to halt and reverse illegal criminals’ invasions of America.
in…
– KarolineLeavitt (@presssec) June 8, 2025
The decision was faced with violence and harassment from protesters after DHS said recent attacks, including people in downtown Los Angeles and Westlake, led to more than 100 arrests, federal officials said Saturday.
“This week’s ICE operation has resulted in 118 arrests, including five gang members and those related to domestic violence, robbery, drug trafficking and human smuggling,” said the Department of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI).
By Friday evening, following public glasses with federal agents in armored trucks as well as helmets and rifles, protesters poured into downtown LA streets, enclosing federal buildings and blocking off-ramps at intersections and highways.
As tensions unfolded throughout the region, Tom Homan from the White House border border area was in Los Angeles this weekend, White House officials confirmed on NBC News.
Homan told Fox News Saturday that federal authorities were mobilizing to deploy the National Guard.
In a clash between federal agents and protesters, the HSI claimed that it was a number while the Los Angeles Police Department did not move quickly to assist staff.
“It took two hours for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to respond,” HSI said in a statement. “On (Friday night), more than 1,000 mobs surrounded the federal law enforcement building, attacking ice law enforcement officials, slashing tires and damaging field buildings, providing taxpayer funding.”
Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyon also insisted his agent, called “multiple times” support for LAPD.
“The brave men and women of the ice were in Los Angeles arresting illegal foreigners of gang members, drug traffickers, assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery and smuggling,” Lyon said in a statement Saturday, claiming that ice agents are up 413%.
The DHS denounced Democratic leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, who put ice agents at risk, so Gov. Gavin Newsom went to social media to warn that around 2,000 National Guard soldiers were being sent to Los Angeles.
“The movement is intentionally inflammatory and only escalates tension,” Newsmu said. “The security guards have been serving LA brilliantly during their recovery. This is a wrong mission and erodes the trust of the people.”
Friday’s ice attack led to daytime workers detention at Home Depot parking lot in the Westlake area of Wilshire Boulevard. Two other groups of agents also ambushed two offices of the clothing company that employed “fictional” documents, US lawyer Bill Essay confirmed Friday with NBC Los Angeles.
