Washington: Senior White House advisor Stephen Miller has dramatically denounced the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles as a “violent insurrection”, escalating tensions over recent immigration raids . In response, President Trump has ordered 2,000 National Guard troops into Los Angeles County, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that active-duty military may be deployed if unrest intensifies.

Protests began after aggressive ICE raids led to the arrest of 44 individuals, including legal residents, across several parts of the city. Video footage from the Paramount district shows crowds clashing with federal agents waving Mexican flags, lighting fires, and confronting officers with bricks as tear gas and flash-bang grenades were deployed.

Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass strongly criticized the federal response, calling the deployment “purposefully inflammatory” and accusing the administration of creating a political spectacle rather than addressing legitimate public safety concerns. Meanwhile, protesters chanted “ICE out of L.A!” and appealed for peaceful resistance. Labor leader David Huerta, who was injured during the protests, remains detained.

Deputy Chief of Staff Miller framed the unrest as an attack on U.S. sovereignty, while Senator JD Vance echoed the warning, viewing the demonstrations as a threat to national law . The administration has not activated the Insurrection Act but has emphasized swift military readiness under Title 10 authority

This clash highlights deeper divisions between the federal government's aggressive immigration enforcement and the sanctuary city protections upheld by California. With the 2026 election cycle approaching, the deployment significantly raises civil liberty concerns and sets a new precedent for federal intervention in domestic policy disputes.