President Donald Trump says he has deployed 2,000 California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles to respond to immigration protests over California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s objection.
In a statement Saturday, the White House said Trump is deploying security guards in California to “deal with the lawlessness that Fester was allowed.”
Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom opposed the move, saying in a post on X that the move from the Republican president is “deliberately inflammatory and only escalates tension.”
The White House’s move to ratchet dramatically came when the protests in Los Angeles were extended on the second day. There, protesters confronted Border Patrol personnel on riot equipment, causing tear gas and smoke to fill the air. Signaling the administration’s aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses threatened to deploy US troops in X’s post.
Protesters waving the US and Mexican flags during a protest in Compton, California on Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration officials conducted the operation. (AP Photo/Ethan Swarp)
Trump signed the order just before attending the UFC fight in New Jersey, where he sat ringside with boxer Mike Tyson.
In a statement on social media, Newsom said local governments “have immediate access to law enforcement assistance” and “they don’t need to be unmet.”
“This is a wrong mission and will erode the trust of the people,” he added.
Riot equipment and gas mask border patrol officials deployed tear gas as bystanders and protesters gathered in the centre and on the streets, being guarded outside the Paramount city industrial park. Some people jeered executives while recording events on their smartphones.
National Guard deployment
It’s not the first time Trump has revitalized the National Guard to quell the protests. In 2020, he asked governors of several states to send troops to Washington, D.C. to respond to the demonstrations that occurred after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Many of the governors he asked agreed and sent troops into the Federal District. The governor, who refused the request, was allowed to do so, keeping their troops in their home soil.
However, this time Trump is acting against Newsom. Newsom will maintain control and command of the California National Guard under normal circumstances. Trump said the military needs to be federated to “dealize lawlessness” in California, but the Democratic governor said the move is “deliberately inflammatory and only escalates tension.”
There are a few things you need to know about when and how the president can deploy his troops in the US soil.
The law is a bit vague
Generally, federal forces are not permitted to carry out civil law enforcement obligations to US citizens except in emergencies.
The 18th century wartime law, known as the Rebellion Act, is the main legal mechanism that presidents can use to activate the military or national guard during times of rebellion and unrest. But Trump did not invoke the Rebellion Act on Saturday.
Instead, he relied on similar federal laws that allowed the president to turn federal forces into federal government under certain circumstances.
The National Guard is a hybrid entity that serves both state and federal interests. They are often operated under state command and control using state funds. National Guard forces may be allocated by states to serve federal missions, and are under state command, but use federal funds.
The law cited by Trump’s declaration places National Guard troops under federal command. The law says it can be done under three circumstances: When the United States is invaded or at risk of an invasion. If there is a risk of rebellion or rebellion against the authority of the US government, or if the president is unable to “enforce US laws” with his regular forces.
Protesters will place the remains of the fire on Saturday, June 7, 2025 by riot equipment and gas mask border patrol personnel outside the industrial estate in Paramount, California, as security guards (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
However, the law also states that orders for these purposes are “issued through the governor of the state.” It is not immediately clear whether the president can activate the National Guard without the orders of the state governor.
The role of the National Guard is limited
In particular, Trump’s declaration says that National Guard forces play a supportive role by protecting ice officers in enforcement, rather than enforcing law enforcement.
Steve Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, specializes in military justice and national security law, says that it is because the National Guard forces cannot legally engage in normal law enforcement activities unless Trump first invites rebellion laws.
Vladeck said the move poses the risk that the military could potentially use its forces, while fulfilling its “protective” role. The move could also be a pioneer in the deployment of other more aggressive military forces, he wrote on the website.
“There is nothing these troops allowed to do that. For example, the ice officers whose protests were directed could not do themselves,” writes Vladek.
The military has been mobilized previously
Riot Act and related laws were used during the civil rights era to protect activists and students separating schools. President Dwight Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock, Arkansas, protecting black students who integrated Central High School after the governor of that state revitalised the National Guard and kept students out.
George H.W. Bush responded to the riots in 1992 after being acquitted by a white police officer who beat the black driver Rodney King in 1992.
Protesters throw rocks in tear gas from law enforcement during demonstrations after federal immigration officials conducted an operation in Paramount, California on Saturday, June 7, 2025 (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
National Guards are deployed for a variety of emergencies, including the Covid pandemic, hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, these deployments generally take place along with the agreements of the governor of the corresponding state.
Trump is willing to use his military in his hometown soil
In 2020, Trump asked governors of several states to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to quell the protests that arose after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Many of the governors agreed and sent troops into the Federal District.
At the time, Trump was also threatening to invoke the rebellion laws in protest after Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. But then defensive secretary Mark Esper said the law should be called “only in the most urgent and dire circumstances.”
Trump never evoked the Rebellion Act during his first term.
However, during his second campaign, he suggested that it would change. Trump told Iowa audiences in 2023 that he was prevented from using the military to curb violence in cities and states during his first term, and told him “I’m not waiting” if the issues resurfaced the next semester.
Trump has also committed to deploying the National Guard to implement immigration targets, and his top advisor, Stephen Miller, explained how it will be done.
After Trump announced Saturday that he was federating the National Guard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said other measures would continue.
Hegseth wrote on social media platform X that active Marines from Camp Pendleton are highly vigilant and will be mobilized “if violence continues.”
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