Image source, Reuters

Trump has strongly criticised California and LA's Democratic officials amid unrest in parts of the area in recent days.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called Trump's order for the National Guard to be deployed in the Los Angeles area "purposefully inflammatory".

In a post on social media, he said law enforcement had no unmet need and accused the Trump administration of seeking a "spectacle".

He also criticised the immigration raids, accusing the Trump administration of "sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate".

He shared a message written by his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, which said: "Weaponizing protest to justify federal crackdowns is a dangerous precedent."

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs described the move as "an unnecessary escalation" as she called on the president to reconsider.

"No one wants their community to become militarized — it raises the potential for people to get hurt and erodes public trust. President Trump, don’t do this," she wrote on X.

And Sen Alex Padilla said: "Using the National Guard this way is a completely inappropriate and misguided mission. The Trump Administration is just sowing more chaos and division in our communities."

Image source, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The National Guard of the United States, a reserve force that usually operates at state-level, is usually called by a state's governor.

But President Trump has used a provision that allows him to take control himself by federalising the National Guard, California Governor Gavin Newsom's office told the AP news agency.

The law - which puts National Guard troops under federal command - states that this can only be done in certain circusmtances.

These include when the US is invaded or in danger of being invaded, when there is a rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the US government, or when the president is not able to execute US laws with regular forces.

However, it is not currently clear if Trump can activate the troops without the order of the state's governor under the law.

The National Guard has not been deployed in the city of Los Angeles, mayor Karen Bass has said.

In a post on X, external, Bass - who has criticised ICE raids and reported violence during protests against them - also thanked the LA Police Department and local law enforcement for their work on Saturday night.

However, it is still not clear whether the National Guard is on the ground in the wider LA area.

As we reported earlier, clashes over immigration raids have also erupted in Paramount, a tiny city in the county, on Saturday.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Clashes were seen in the Los Angeles area on Friday after Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration raids were carried out across the city.

The BBC's US partner, CBS, reports that operations took place in the city, in the Westlake District and south LA.

As many as 118 arrests were made in LA this week as a result of ICE operations, including 44 on Friday. California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the raids as "cruel".

The Federal Building in downtown LA later became the focus of demonstrations, after it emerged that detainees were allegedly being held in the building.

Graffiti was sprayed on the building and objects were thrown at police, CBS reports, leading to an unlawful assembly declaration.

On Saturday, the LA County Sheriff's Department said another protest broke out in the city of Paramount over what appeared to be another immigration raid.

As many as 400 people were involved in the protests, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. The department then declared an unlawful assembly in an attempt to disperse demonstrators "without any violence".

Immigration raids have ramped up under President Trump's administration, which last month asked federal agents to arrest 3,000 people a day.

As we've been reporting, clashes on Saturday took place in the city of Paramount, in Los Angeles County.

The tiny city - which has a population of about 51,000 - borders Compton in the south of the county.

It became a flashpoint after reports emerged that law enforcement officers were conducting an immigration raid in the area.

The LA County Sheriff's Department said a large crowd blocked traffic on Paramount Boulevard at about 12:42pm on Saturday.

Image source, Reuters

Trump thanks the National Guard for a "job well done" in LA in a post on social media.

He repeats his criticism of the state and city's Democrat leaders before taking aim at the protesters: "These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED."

He adds that "from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests".

"Thank you to the National Guard for a job well done," he says.

The BBC has not yet been able to verify whether the National Guard have actually arrived to LA following Trump's order.

Photos from Saturday show clashes in the Los Angeles county city of Paramount.

Tear gas and "less lethal munitions" were used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal agents to disperse crowds during a second day of unrest.

Image source, Reuters

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The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has issued dispersal orders for an area around a detention centre in the city's downtown area.

"Multiple people have been detained for failing to disperse after multiple warnings were issued," the LAPD's central division says on social media.

"The use of less lethal munitions has been authorised," it says, saying these can "cause pain and discomfort".

Image source, EPA

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X, external that his department was “mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY” to support law enforcement in LA.

“And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” he adds.

Hegseth says “violent mob assaults” in the city were “designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil”.

He also claims the unrest was “a dangerous criminal invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK”.

Residents of a predominantly Latino district have clashed with Immigration and Customs (ICE) federal agents over the past two days over raids on undocumented migrants.

Hegseth warns that under Trump’s administration “violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It’s COMMON SENSE”.

Image source, Reuters

US President Donald Trump has ordered the National Guard to Los Angeles to deal with unrest over immigration raids.

It comes after a second day of unrest in the Californian city, with residents of a predominantly Latino district clashing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal agents.

Tear gas and "less lethal munitions" have been used to disperse crowds in the Paramount district.

"To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States." Trump says in an order saying National Guard units will "temporarily protect" law immigration officers.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says on social media: "The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle.

"Don't give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully."

We'll be bringing you updates on this story as it develops.