LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Tear gas was fired at protesters in Los Angeles on Sunday when some demonstrators moved close to National Guard troops and shouted insults at them, hours after President Donald Trump鈥檚 over the objections of the governor and mayor.
The confrontation broke out as hundreds of people protested in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where several of the newly-arrived National Guard troops stood shoulder to shoulder behind plastic riot shields.
Video showed uniformed officers shooting off the smoke-filled canisters as they advanced into the street, forcing protesters to retreat. It was not immediately clear what prompted the use of chemical irritants or which law enforcement agency fired them.
Minutes later, loud popping sounds erupted again, as some protesters chanted 鈥済o home鈥� and 鈥渟hame.鈥� One person was taken to the ground by uniformed officers. Another appeared to be bleeding from their head.
Around 300 National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles early Sunday on orders from Trump, who accused Gov. Gavin 海角社区appom and other Democrats of failing to stanch recent protests targeting immigration agents.
The move appeared to be the first time in decades that a state鈥檚 national guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the efforts.
Deployment follows days of protest
The deployment followed two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading on Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and .
As federal agents set up a staging area Saturday near a Home Depot in Paramount, demonstrators attempted to block Border Patrol vehicles, with some hurling rocks and chunks of cement. In response, agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls.
Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed above 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement.
The deployment of the National Guard came over the objections of Gov. Gavin 海角社区appom, who accused Trump of a 鈥渃omplete overreaction鈥� designed to create a spectacle of force.
The recent protests remain far smaller than past events that have brought the National Guard to Los Angeles, including the and and the 2020 protests against police violence, in which 海角社区appom requested the assistance of federal troops.
The last time the National Guard was activated without a governor’s permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Trump says there will be 鈥榲ery strong law and order鈥�
In a Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is 鈥漚 rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.鈥�
He said he had authorized the deployment of 2,000 members of the National Guard.
Trump told reporters as he prepared to board Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, Sunday that there were 鈥渧iolent people鈥� in Los Angeles 鈥渁nd they鈥檙e not gonna get away with it.鈥�
Asked if he , Trump replied: 鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna have troops everywhere. We鈥檙e not going to let this happen to our country. We鈥檙e not going to let our country be torn apart like it was under Biden.鈥� He didn鈥檛 elaborate.
Trump also said that California officials who stand in the way of the deportations could face charges. on accusations she helped a man evade immigration authorities.
鈥淚f officials stay in the way of law and order, yeah, they will face charges,鈥� Trump said.
海角社区appom called Trump on Friday night and they spoke for about 40 minutes, according to the governor鈥檚 office. It was not clear if they spoke Saturday or Sunday.
There was some confusion surrounding the exact timing of the guard’s arrival. Shortly before midnight local time, Trump congratulated the National Guard on a 鈥渏ob well done.” But less than an hour later, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said troops had yet to arrive in the city.
Defense secretary threatens to deploy active-duty Marines 鈥榠f violence continues鈥�
In a statement Sunday, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused California’s politicians and protesters of 鈥渄efending heinous illegal alien criminals at the expense of Americans’ safety.鈥�
“Instead of rioting, they should be thanking ICE officers every single day who wake up and make our communities safer,” McLaughlin added.
The troops included members of the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to a from the Department of Defense.
In a signal of the administration鈥檚 aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also threatened to deploy active-duty Marines 鈥渋f violence continues鈥� in the region.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said the order by Trump reflected 鈥渁 president moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism鈥� and 鈥渦surping the powers of the United States Congress.鈥�
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed the president鈥檚 move, doubling down on Republicans鈥� criticisms of California Democrats.
鈥淕avin 海角社区appom has shown an inability or an unwillingness to do what is necessary, so the president stepped in,鈥� Johnson said.
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Offenhartz reported from New York. Associated Press writer Michelle Price contributed to this report from Bridgewater, New Jersey.
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