Governor and L.A. Mayor criticized for refusing to support law enforcement during violent riots sparked by ICE operations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing mounting backlash after throwing his support behind protestors who violently clashed with immigration agents in Los Angeles over the weekend. The demonstrations erupted in response to federal immigration enforcement operations and rapidly devolved into chaos in areas like Compton, Paramount, and downtown L.A.
As President Trump’s administration deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order, footage showed mobs attacking federal agents with rocks and fireworks, torching vehicles, and waving foreign flags in the streets. Homeland Security officials confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were ambushed outside a Home Depot in Paramount, with multiple injuries and damaged vehicles resulting from the assault.
Despite the violence, Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass refused to support the federal response. Instead, they condemned the enforcement efforts. Newsom accused federal officials of “sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate,” while Bass criticized ICE for actions that “sow terror in our communities.”
Critics argue this rhetoric has emboldened the rioters and undermined the rule of law. Acting ICE Director Tom Homan, speaking on Fox News, emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “We’re going to bring the National Guard in tonight. We’re going to continue doing our job. We’re going to push back on these people and we’re going to enforce the law.”
The federal government’s frustration deepened when it was revealed that LAPD allegedly took nearly two hours to respond to federal agents’ calls for help during Friday night’s flashpoint in the fashion district. Federal officials say local leadership’s inaction left law enforcement exposed and vulnerable.
As the unrest spilled into Saturday night, demonstrators blocked federal buses, lit fires, and desecrated American flags, with DHS reporting over a dozen arrests for obstructing immigration operations. In response to the escalating violence, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned on X that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton are on alert and may be deployed if the situation worsens.
President Trump directly criticized Newsom and Bass, stating on social media: “If Bass and Newsom ‘can’t do their jobs… the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the attacks on federal officers and pointed to a clear failure in leadership: “The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable. Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom must call for it to end.”
The enforcement operations resulted in 118 arrests, including five known gang members and several individuals with past charges of drug trafficking and child cruelty, according to DHS. However, advocacy groups like the ACLU have tried to shift focus by claiming that children were among those detained—despite ICE officials’ assertion that the operations were targeted and lawful.
The LAPD has not responded to inquiries about its delayed response or involvement in assisting federal agents. Meanwhile, DHS notes that assaults on ICE officers have surged over 400% since President Trump resumed office in January—a statistic underscoring the risks faced by those tasked with upholding immigration law.
