Los Angeles faced its third straight day of tense protests over federal immigration raids Sunday, which devolved into vandalism and violence, with armed National Guard troops now part of the equation.
National Guard troops arrived in downtown Los Angeles at 4 a.m. Sunday after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment, over the strenuous objection of local Democrats, led by Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom. By early afternoon they were facing off with angry protesters as they tried to protect the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street downtown.
Multiple news outlets reported 27 arrests on the day, but the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section would not confirm the number while demonstrations were still actively going on.
Additionally, 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines are prepared to deploy and assist the National Guard troops on the ground according to NBC News.
About 6 p.m., the LAPD requested mutual aid from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which sent more than 100 deputies to support the LAPD and the California Highway Patrol.
Demonstrators were seeing a variety of uniforms as Sheriff Robert G. Luna then requested mutual assistance from law enforcement inside and outside of L.A. County, and the department coordinated with the California Office of Emergency Services to deploy additional resources.
Around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police shut down the Hollywood (101) Freeway for the second time that day due to protesters on an overpass throwing rocks, debris and firecrackers at California Highway Patrol officers and vehicles in southbound lanes, causing severe damage to the vehicles. The freeway was shut down “until further notice,” according to the the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD went on Tactical Alert, declared an unlawful assembly in the area of Alameda Street between Second and Aliso streets and battled with more than 1,000 demonstrators who marched from Boyle Heights to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
Troops on horseback, ground and air resources were deployed with less- lethal munitions to combat the protesters.
On Sunday evening, police declared an unlawful assembly for the entire Civic Center Area of downtown, and closing traffic on Spring Street between Temple and First streets, where demonstrators used chairs from Grand Park and other items to blockade the street. Less-lethal munitions were authorized and were used. The area in effect includes Broadway to the west, Alameda Street to the East, Second Street to the south and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard to the north.
Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, protesters used pink chairs, possibly from nearby Grand Park in an attempt to establish barricades in multiple locations, including Spring and Temple streets, outside City Hall and LAPD Headquarters. Meanwhile, officers were trying to dismantle them.
Nearby, police on horseback established a skirmish line and were launching tear gas to maintain their position.
Meanwhile, black smoke emanated from about a half-dozen Waymo driver- less cars that were summoned to Los Angeles Street only to be destroyed and set on fire. Authorities allowed the vehicles to burn themselves out rather than send in firefighters to extinguish them. “Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,” officials stated.
Video also showed multiple LAPD vehicles vandalized. An incendiary weapon thrown at a car to set it on fire, which was soon extinguished.
“These images are unacceptable … these kids on the car, folks that are taking advantage of this, these aren’t peaceful protesters, a lot of these folks. A lot great people out there doing the right thing, but then you get these insurgents groups coming in, sort of these anarchists that are there to create real problems, and they’re just playing right into Donald Trump’s hands,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told NBC’s Jacob Soboroff. “They need to be called out. They need to be arrested. It is wrong to destroy other people’s property and it is wrong to create the conditions that only exacerbate this. But Donald Trump, at the end of the day, is the sponsor of these conditions.”
By 7 p.m. Sunday, the car fires were extinguished by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A spokesperson from Waymo said the company was in touch with law enforcement after a number of the vehicles in the vicinity of active protests were vandalized. The spokesperson said they do not believe the protests were related specifically to Waymo.
Around 9 p.m., the LAPD declared the entirety of downtown an unlawful assembly, telling all demonstrators to leave immediately. Police said demonstrators marched to the LA Live area and slowed traffic on Figueroa near 11th Street by walking through the center of the roadway. A single police cruiser was struck by a bicycle thrown by a pedestrian in the area. A second police vehicle was pelted with items after showing up to assist.
Arrests were reported as some protesters threw bottles and other objects at officers and attempted to breach police lines.
Two people riding motorcycles were detained after they allegedly attempted to breach a skirmish line at the intersection of Alameda and Temple streets and injured two officers, according to the LAPD.
The officers were being treated at the scene by medical personnel and said to be in stable condition. Another officer was reportedly injured when a flaming substance was thrown at, but no officer was transported to a hospital.
Demonstrators walked onto the 101 Freeway, disrupting traffic and prompting a temporarily closure through the downtown area.
Some streets in the area were closed to traffic, DASH bus lines were skipping stops, and metro rails were discontinued, including shutting down services from Union Station.
On Sunday night, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell held a news conference and told assembled media that at least 10 people were arrested, with none serious enough to need medical attention. He also noted 29 protesters had been arrested on Saturday.
At least that many protesters were detained on Friday night, CBS reported, citing a senior city official.
McDonnell stated the LAPD was overwhelmed by the number of protesters and were working through attacks on officers that included Molotov cocktails, hammers and stones.
“We recognize that immigration enforcement operations can cause a deep fear and anxiety, particularly in immigrant communities. That’s why we’re committed to transparency, accountability and treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status. … Our job is to keep everyone safe,” McDonnell said. “We will continue to support peaceful protests and enforce the law on criminal action.”
“The LAPD supports and protects the First Amendment right to free speech. We’re committed to treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status. … Our job is to keep everyone safe,” he said.
“I’ve seen civil unrest before, and generally, the 2nd and 3rd days are more violent,” McDonnell said, adding that he had spoken with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who said he would be filing charges where appropriate … “and won’t be shy about that.”
When asked how difficult it was to keep the city safe when so many officers were deployed to a single location, the police chief said it was difficult, and that only calls of great importance, such as a crime of violence, would receive a response.
He also said the LAPD has a very good relationship with the National Guard after working closely together for months during the Palisades Fire that ignited Jan. 7.
Earlier in the day, the National Guard announced details about their deployment.
“@TheCalGuard 79th IBCT has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They are conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel,” the U.S. Northern Command posted at 9:07 a.m. Sunday.
“The National Guard is present and actively protecting federal assets in Los Angeles,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. “Anyone thinking about showing up to damage federal property or to assault our agents, think again.”
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, was outside the center Sunday, questioning the presence of the armed Guard members.
“If a young person who may not be documented decided to run because they’re afraid, will they shoot them? Why do they have these guns? I’m really concerned about that,” she said.
According to The Times, Waters also asked about two dozen of the Guard members, “Who are you going to shoot? If you’re going to shoot me, you better shoot straight.”
Around midday, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division said three “peaceful” demonstrations were underway: non-permitted events at Olvera Street and at a federal facility on Alameda Street, and a permitted demonstration in front of the Central Division.
Another demonstration was planned for 7 p.m., when interfaith leaders from across Los Angeles County will gather for a candlelight vigil at City Hall to call for an “end to the violence of immigration raids, and the protection of immigrant families in LA County.”
During Sunday’s protest on Alameda Street, National Guard members threw tear gas canisters and smoke grenades toward the demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Pasadena officials were reporting some sort of federal immigration activity in that city Sunday.
“We have received and confirmed reports that federal personnel are present in Pasadena. At this time, no enforcement activity has been confirmed,” Mayor Victor Gordo said.
“We understand the anxiety and fear that these reports can create for many in our community. I urge our community to remain calm, united, and peaceful, and not be baited or provoked into violence. The right to peacefully assemble and express ourselves is a fundamental part of who we are — not just as Pasadenans, but as Americans.
“We will update our community as more information becomes available.”
The Presidential Memorandum posted Saturday on the White House website ordered the deployment of the Guard in light of “numerous incidents of violence and disorder [which] … threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws.”
The order states, in part that “The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he has placed U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County on “high alert” to be deployed if needed.
The chaos began with a series of immigration enforcement raids Friday that sparked demonstrations featuring dozens of arrests and profane and threatening graffiti left on government buildings, and continued Saturday with violent protests in Paramount during the day and in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
Despite the unruly crowds, Bass said federal reinforcements were not needed.
“I’m very disappointed that he chose to do this, because it’s just not necessary,” Bass told KTLA5 Sunday morning. “There was protests last night in Los Angeles — my understanding is that there were about 120 protesters. Several of them did commit acts of vandalism, but there was nothing that was happening in downtown Los Angeles that the Los Angeles Police Department could not manage to deal with, so to me, this is completely unnecessary, I think it’s the administration just posturing. To have 100 troops in Westwood, where nothing had happened at all, and 100 downtown is just overreach.”
Newsom, who typically only deploys the California National Guard upon request from local law enforcement, accused Trump of trying to create a “spectacle” rather than acting on a “legitimate need.”
The governor later said he had “formally requested the Trump administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed.”
“Rescind the order. Return control to California,” he said.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it arrested two people for an alleged assault on a peace officer. An unidentified source told the Los Angeles Times the arrests were made after three deputies were struck and sustained minor injuries from a thrown Molotov cocktail.
Saturday’s protest in Paramount, near the Home Depot at 6400 Alondra Blvd., escalated throughout the day, with many in the crowd turning over shopping carts and other objects that were left in the street, while federal authorities in riot gear stood by. The street filled with smoke from tear gas canisters, and at least one protester could be seen on the ground bleeding in news footage, though the nature of the apparent injury wasn’t clear.
One protester set fire to a United States flag, a Fox11 reported posted video showing one of the station’s news vehicles with slashed tires and smashed windows, and one man in a yellow helmet was seen in video footage throwing large rocks at vehicles driving through the area. KTLA5 showed a news van that was similarly vandalized.
The FBI later announced that a $50,000 reward was available for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of that suspect. The agency released photos of the suspect at fbi.gov/wanted/seeking- info/assault-on-a-federal-officer-and-damage-to-government-property.
“On June 7, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the suspect threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, California, injuring a federal officer and damaging government vehicles,” the statement said.