Among nearly two dozen arrests was David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union, charged with obstructing federal officers. He was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center pending a Monday hearing.
Scenes of burning debris and smashed windows dominated news coverage, prompting former President Donald Trump to invoke Title 10 authority. He deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County for at least sixty days, extendable by the defense secretary. On Truth Social, Trump criticized Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass for “weak leadership,” promising that federal forces would end the “riots and looters” if local officials could not.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the unrest a “national-security threat” tied to “violent mob assaults.” He revealed Marines at Camp Pendleton were on standby for possible domestic deployment—a rare and forceful signal of active-duty troops potentially being used on U.S. soil.
Federal investigators have launched a thorough review of video footage, using facial-recognition technology and license-plate scans to identify those involved in throwing rocks, setting fires, or damaging property. ICE, the FBI, and Homeland Security have set up joint command centers to coordinate warrants and share intelligence. National Guard units now secure federal buildings, detention centers, and major transit hubs, tasked with protecting property while avoiding confrontations with peaceful protesters. Any Marine involvement would likely require an Insurrection Act declaration, a move that could face legal challenges.
State leaders pushed back quickly. Governor Newsom called the National Guard deployment “politically driven grandstanding,” warning it would only heighten tensions. Mayor Bass condemned the ICE raids as “fear tactics” undermining Los Angeles’ sanctuary policies. Both pledged city and state agencies would not assist in detaining non-violent migrants. Civil rights groups also signaled lawsuits against any protest mask bans proposed by Trump and questioned the scope of federal authority under Title 10 without state approval.
This tense standoff carries significant implications. It may set new precedents for federal intervention in local unrest, reshape political debates around immigration enforcement, and test how far Washington will go to restore order. For now, National Guard troops patrol Los Angeles streets as federal analysts work to identify those responsible for the violence—leaving the city and the nation watching closely to see if the crackdown calms tensions or sparks further conflict.