ICE Raids Ignite Chaos in Los Angeles
“Trump sends National Guard to LA amid immigration protests”—the headlines exploded on June 8, 2025, as Los Angeles immigration protests escalated into violence. Triggered by aggressive ICE raids in Los Angeles, federal agents stormed locations in the Fashion District, a Home Depot, and a garment factory—arresting over 100 people in a single day. Protesters blocked roads, burned American flags, waved Mexican ones, and clashed with police in scenes reminiscent of civil unrest not seen since the George Floyd protests.
This dramatic escalation forced President Trump to authorize a Trump National Guard deployment in LA County, while Marines at Camp Pendleton were put on high alert. With this, the Trump second term immigration policy collided head-on with a city deeply divided on immigration. The deployment set off a new political firestorm, prompting accusations of overreach, especially from Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the move “inflammatory.”
ICE Raids and Street Uprising—The Timeline of LA’s Immigration Flashpoint
On June 6, raids conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI swept through the Fashion District, a Home Depot in Westlake, and a clothing wholesaler. Reports confirmed ICE also detained day laborers in a highly controversial operation dubbed the ICE day laborer raids Home Depot. Over 100 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody.
As the raids unfolded, large-scale demonstrations erupted near the Metropolitan Detention Center and Paramount, California. Protesters threw concrete, bricks, and Molotov cocktails, leading to several injuries, including a Border Patrol agent. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang grenades. The LAPD and LA County Sheriff’s Department issued dispersal orders and labeled the protests as “domestic unrest.”
Protesters were seen waving Mexican flags at LA protests, burning American flags, and spray-painting anti-ICE graffiti. Multiple journalists were injured, and prominent union leader David Huerta was among those arrested. The processing of detainees was delayed, and legal battles erupted over federal overreach and First Amendment violations.
Trump’s Response, JD Vance’s Insurrection Charge, and Political Fallout
Facing mounting unrest, Trump deployed the National Guard to LA, asserting that local officials were “failing to control the chaos.” His Truth Social immigration post warned of “riots and looters,” and the administration signaled the Insurrection Act was not invoked, though it remained an option.
Vice President JD Vance labeled the protests an ‘insurrection’, while Stephen Miller’s insurrection remarks claimed these were “coordinated attacks on federal authority.” Meanwhile, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom blasted the National Guard deployment, calling it a political stunt, further intensifying the ongoing Trump vs Gavin Newsom feud.
Additionally, Camp Pendleton Marines were placed on standby as the Pentagon issued a readiness warning for potential deployment if violence continued. Local leaders like Angelica Salas of CHIRLA condemned both the raids and federal militarization, saying immigrant communities were being turned into battlegrounds.
The 2025 Los Angeles anti-ICE riots mark a defining chapter in the battle over U.S. immigration policy. With the Trump immigration crackdown 2025 accelerating and Los Angeles National Guard protests making national headlines, this confrontation may well shape legal precedents, civil rights discourse, and Trump’s legacy in his second term.
