Protests against immigration policies in Los Angeles have escalated into tense clashes. The first National Guard troops have arrived to suppress the riots.
Earlier, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced that 2,000 guardsmen would be deployed in Los Angeles due to clashes with protesters protesting against the deportation of illegal immigrants.
The Pentagon head did not rule out using the army. Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon is ready to send army units to Los Angeles "if the violence continues." According to him, the Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton are on "high alert," Reuters writes.
For the second day in a row, federal agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clashed with protesters in the Paramount neighborhood in southeast Los Angeles. More than 80% of the population is Latino. Tear gas and stun grenades were used to disperse the crowd.
The White House said President Donald Trump had "stepped in to restore law and order" because of Gavin Newsom's ineffective management.
"Newsom's claim that Los Angeles had no problems before President Trump stepped in is a blatant lie. Everyone has seen the chaos, violence, and lawlessness unless Gavin Newsom believes they are not a problem," the White House said.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets to protest the deployment of the National Guard. They blocked one of the city's major highways, set cars on fire, and law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
"Waiting for hours for the LAPD to arrive, or hearing them say they won't help us unless there's an immediate threat to their officers' lives, is just unrealistic when there's violence," Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem told CBS News.
During the campaign, Donald Trump said he would not allow "left-wing lawlessness" on the streets of the United States and would use the full force of his presidential powers to enforce law and order. Protests in California against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have allowed him to make good on that promise.
