ICE Raids, LA Riots, and the National Guard: What Really Happened?
The world seems like it has just been falling apart the last few weeks! There have been massive protests about immigration, riots that posed major threats to law enforcement and to the city of Los Angeles as a whole, the calling in of the national guard, and a legal showdown between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump – so at this point, it’s tempting to just feel like it’s all too much and throw up our hands and disengage entirely!
BUT we are NOT going to do that! We are going to stay informed, and we are going to form thoughtful responses that contribute to making our state BETTER – because when everything is falling apart, the truth still exists, and it still matters – maybe even more than ever. That means that today we are going to cover the chaos that has been unfolding in our state, what it teaches us, and why it matters.
We have immigration raids, we have protests, we have federal involvement in state matters, and we have yet another lawsuit by our Governor against our President. What do all these topics have in common? What is the connecting thread?
To step back and look at the picture, I believe that the chaos that has unfolded in California is the perfect example of people wanting to be heard – but doing so without truth, without clarity, and without self-control. And when that happens, we don’t get change, we get chaos.
This is exactly what we have seen in each scenario. Let’s cover exactly what happened and how this all connects.
ICE Raids and Immigration Protests
Starting with the immigration protests – exactly what happened?
On June 6th, ICE agents carried out a series of raids in Los Angeles, arresting and detaining over 100 illegal immigrants in various locations across the city. As a result, an estimated 1,000 protestors rallied outside of the downtown federal building, where the ICE detainees were being held, calling for an end to immigration raids in the city.[1][2] But, despite what Mayor Bass and the mainstream media were saying, these were not “mostly peaceful” protests. These turned into full-on riots. Protestors flooded the 101 freeway, completely stopping traffic and even setting fire to cars, leaving them to burn in the street.[3] They also were throwing concrete, bottles, and other objects at police.[4] Footage was all across social media of rioters setting Waymos – which are self-driving cars – on fire,[5] burning the American flag,[6] and looting innocent, local businesses in the area.[7] I mean, the pictures and videos are completely insane, it looked at the time like all of Los Angeles was burning to the ground.
This was an absolutely insane response to federal immigration enforcement carrying out raids – especially when the federal government has made it very clear that it is a priority of the Trump administration to detain and deport illegal immigrant criminals from all across the United States. There were accusations thrown all over the protests and all over social media that President Trump is just targeting minority communities by only arresting people based on appearance or skin color, that the immigrants arrested were not given the due process of law they are legally entitled to, and that ICE is just stoking fear in certain communities and terrorizing people groups.
This is a prime example of reactions that are not grounded in truth or clarity. These are emotional, and clearly violent, reactions to policy positions, not based on the facts or based on real disagreements with the policies in place, but based on feelings and anger and misinformation.
For example, if you believe that ICE raids are targeting minority communities by only arresting people based on appearance or skin color – that is just not true. The clear policy of the Trump Administration is to arrest and deport any immigrant who is here illegally, with a specific focus on those with criminal records. This is not race-based discrimination. If you are a legal citizen or permanent resident or even legal temporary resident of the United States, you have the documentation to prove that. If you are not here legally, then you don’t, and under federal law you are subject to deportation. It has nothing to do with your race or background. Additionally, ICE has clearly prioritized criminals. Just listen to a few of the people who were arrested in the Los Angeles raids:
1. Cuong Phan, a 49-year-old illegal immigrant from Vietnam who was convicted of second-degree murder,
2. Rolando Enriquez, a 55-year-old illegal immigrant from the Philippines convicted of burglary, rape and intent to commit rape, and was given a 37-year prison sentence,
3. Lionel Laguna, a 55-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico convicted of domestic battery, child cruelty, driving under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon,
4. Armando Ordaz, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico convicted of sexual battery, stolen property, and petty theft,
5. Jose Ortiz, a 42-year-old illegal immigrant convicted of drug trafficking,
6. Jordan Esquibel, a 32-year-old illegal immigrant convicted of distribution of heroin and cocaine, and domestic violence,[8]
And the list just goes on and on and on with name after name of immigrants in our country illegally who have committed heinous crimes.
Are these people who you want in your country, in your state, and in your community? Do you want to protect and defend and live next to murderers, rapists, child abusers, and drug traffickers? Are these people who you believe are just “hard-working immigrants” who came here for a “better life” and deserve to pursue the American dream? Absolutely not! That is complete and utter foolishness. These are criminals, and they absolutely should be arrested and deported for their crimes.
But this is what happens when you throw all logic and moral clarity out the window and only react on emotion. These are the people you defend when you accept the narrative that Trump is arresting innocent immigrants who just want to escape the horrors of their home country and build a better life for their children. I mean, there was an actual video of a protestor literally standing in front of one of these ICE vehicles and screaming “let my people go!”
Are these your people? Your people are murderers and convicted felons? Your people abuse their spouses and children, and rape women? Really? And what are they advocating for? That ICE just lets these criminals – who are in our country illegally mind you – back into our communities? Why is that an effective solution?
It’s not. But again, when you aren’t grounded in truth and clarity, you just react with a total lack of self-control, without stopping to consider what you are even advocating for.
One other accusation I want to speak to for a minute is the idea that ICE is just stoking fear in certain communities and terrorizing people groups. This, again, is just not true. ICE is carrying out their job – which is to enforce federal immigration law. If people feel afraid or terrorized, it’s because they broke the law and will be held accountable. That’s a result of their actions, not a result of the law targeting them.
That’s like saying that police terrorize thieves. That if you steal something and the police come to arrest you, they’re purposefully stoking an environment of fear and dread for you to live in. That’s not true. YOU broke the law, and so you feel the consequences of those actions. If you do not break the law, then you have nothing to fear.
So, that was the immigration protests. Protestors did not at all stop to consider and understand the actual immigration policy that they were reacting to, and there was a total breakdown in self-restraint. The result was mass destruction across Los Angeles, with no solutions posed or actual interaction with immigration law to make the system better.
Federal Government Intervention
After the initial rioting, then came the reaction from the federal government. Local and state government were not containing the situation, I mean Karen Bass flat out denied that there were riots even happening. She said that the city was peaceful, and then as days progressed she went on to BLAME ICE for the rioting.[9] Now, just to be clear, you cannot blame law enforcement when criminals are angry that you’re enforcing the law. That’s not how it works.
That is like if you don’t give your child ice cream for breakfast, and they throw a massive tantrum, and then other parents walk in and start saying, well why didn’t you just give them ice cream? This is your fault! That would be insane. You would absolutely defend that you cannot just give your child whatever they desire 100% of the time, and that you are not responsible for their bad behavior.
The same is true here, but I’m getting off track. So, both the Mayor of LA and the Governor of our state really did nothing in response to massive violence, and so President Trump called in the national guard, and that sparked another round of reactions from protestors, officials, and the media, once again based on emotion and misconceptions rather than on facts and clarity.
So, why did Trump call in the national guard, when is he allowed to do that, and was it the right call in this situation?
President Trump invoked Title 10 of the federal code, which authorizes a President to call in the national guard when there is an invasion, rebellion, or infringement on the execution of federal laws in a state.[10] The argument was that several federal law enforcement agents were injured in the riots – amounting to a rebellion – and that protestors were preventing federal immigration enforcement from carrying out their jobs. The national guard was not deployed to arrest protestors, but were ordered to protect federal law enforcement – specifically ICE officials. [11]
Now, of course, Gavin Newsom did not like this and he filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration immediately. He said that local law enforcement didn’t need help, and that the troops were sent in to manufacture chaos and violence.[12]
But, here’s my question: what’s the alternative? Seriously, looking at the pictures and videos of what happened in Los Angeles is shocking, terrifying, and should be unacceptable. But according to Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass, it was mostly peaceful, it wasn’t a big deal, and we should have just let it play out.
Back in 2020, we all remember the devastation that followed the Black Lives Matter riots – those spiraled into full-blown destruction. Take Minneapolis as a prime example – Governor Tim Walz delayed action, and within 72 hours, that city was on fire. Entire city blocks were looted, burned, and destroyed. Police stations were overrun. There was over $500 million in damage, thousands of businesses lost, and a community that’s still rebuilding today.[13] The national guard was deployed eventually, but by then it was too late, the situation was out of control.[14]
Fast forward to today and we saw a similar spark happen in Los Angeles. And yet – LA did NOT become Minneapolis. Why? Because the National Guard was deployed immediately — and it worked. Here’s the thing that leaders need to understand: When chaos begins to spiral, you either restore order or you lose control. There is no in-between.
In Minneapolis, we see that the leadership hesitated. They were afraid to look too harsh, too militarized, too aggressive. But the result was that civilians, not just criminals, paid the price. In LA, leadership denied reality at first, Mayor Bass literally said the protests were “relatively minor.”[15] But when the federal government stepped in with Guard troops and Marines, the streets cleared, the violence stopped, and the city stayed intact.
So, to everyone saying Trump’s response was too harsh, ask yourself this: Would it have been better to let LA burn while we debated? This is the uncomfortable reality: Order has to come before reform. When leaders pretend the violence and chaos are not even happening, they abandon the very people they claim to protect.
Sometimes, saving a city starts with doing something unpopular. President Trump was willing to do that when our Governor and LA’s mayor were not.
Now, the emotional reaction to this says Trump is bad and mean and wants to militarize the world. But that simply is not true. When you look at the facts and contend with the arguments, you realize it was the best option for the survival of one of the largest cities in California.
This moment – with mass protests, unrest, and the intervention of the federal government – shows us what happens when the desire to speak isn’t matched with the discipline to think. It’s true that in a time of crisis, everyone wants to say something — but few are willing to do the work of understanding what’s really happening. And when truth gets replaced by emotion, and conviction isn’t grounded in wisdom, the result isn’t justice – it’s instability.
Final Thoughts
So, what do we learn from all of this? The point is that in a time of mass confusion and chaos, you must be informed and committed to the truth. Do not buy into the narrative that the media or the mob is spinning! When you hear arguments on immigration or ICE or the federal government, think through the issues rationally and logically and ask yourself what each side is advocating for. Because really, the only way we are going to change California is by changing the public opinion – and the only way to change public opinion is to start to FORCE people to think critically!
Now is not the time to disengage or get overwhelmed or give up. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and have the hard conversations. Push back on the popular talking points about Trump and immigration. Don’t give in, not even an inch, on what you know to be true. And little by little, work to change the community around you, with clarity, conviction, and moral courage.
References:
[1] Hutchinson, Bill. “LA Protests Timeline: How ICE Raids Sparked Demonstrations and Trump to Send in the Military.” ABC News, June 13, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-ice-raids-sparked-la-protests-prompted-trump/story?id=122688437.
[2] FitzGerald, Brandon Drenon and James. “Everything We Know About the Protests in LA and Other US Cities,” June 11, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj93d3r0zz0o.
[3] Brady, Jeff. “4 Things to Know About the Immigration Raid Protests That Roiled LA This Weekend.” NPR, June 9, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/09/nx-s1-5427215/what-to-know-los-angeles-protests-ice-trump.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ellis, Rebecca, Clara Harter, and James Queally. “Waymo Vehicles Set on Fire in Downtown L.A. as Protesters, Police Clash - Los Angeles Times.” Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2025. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-08/waymo-vehicles-set-on-fire-protesters-police-clash.
[6] Hagstrom, Anders. “Anti-ICE Protesters in Los Angeles Spit on and Burn American Flag.” Fox News, June 9, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-ice-protesters-los-angeles-spit-burn-american-flag.
[7] Gomez, Carley, and Sophie Flay. “Arrests Made After Stores Looted Amid Continued Unrest in Downtown Los Angeles.” ABC7 Los Angeles, June 10, 2025. https://abc7.com/post/stores-looted-amid-continued-unrest-downtown-los-angeles/16713513/.
[8] Department of Homeland Security. “ICE Captures Worst of the Worst Illegal Alien Criminals in Los Angeles Including Murderers, Sex Offenders, and Other Violent Criminals.” DHS.gov, June 8, 2025. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/08/ice-captures-worst-worst-illegal-alien-criminals-los-angeles-including-murderers.
[9] King, Ryan. “Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Blames Riots on ICE Agents Upholding Law, Insists City Is ‘peaceful Now.’” New York Post, June 9, 2025. https://nypost.com/2025/06/09/us-news/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-blames-riots-on-ice-agents-upholding-law/
[10] LII / Legal Information Institute. “10 U.S. Code § 12406 - National Guard in Federal Service: Call,” n.d. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12406.
[11] Watson, Kathryn. “Trump Invoked Title 10 to Deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles. Here Are the Legal Issues at Play.” CBS News, June 10, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-title-10-national-guard-deployment-los-angeles-authority-meaining/
[12] Ibid.
[13] McClallen, Scott. “Gov. Walz Requests Federal Funding After Riots Caused $500 Million in Damage.” The Center Square, July 6, 2020. https://www.thecentersquare.com/minnesota/article_bcf0f4d4-bfaf-11ea-abc6-b77194d7f388.html.
[14] Phelan, John. “The Truth About Gov. Walz and the National Guard.” American Experiment, July 30, 2024. https://www.americanexperiment.org/the-truth-about-gov-walz-and-the-national-guard/.
[15] “Marines Arrive in L.A. as Part of Trump’s New Deployment,” June 19, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/los-angeles-mayor-lifts-downtown-curfew-imposed-protests-immigration-r-rcna213675.
