The FBI has identified a masked protester who is accused of assaulting a federal officer during heated demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles over the weekend.
In a June 9 post on social media platform X, the FBI stated that it had identified the man as Elpidio Reyna, 40, of Compton, California. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for anyone with information leading to his arrest or conviction, the post stated.
“That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house, as we speak. And he has been identified ... his name is [Reyna]. He is going to be on the Most Wanted list,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said during an appearance on “Hannity” with Fox News on June 9.
“So, you can run, you can’t hide. We are coming after you federally. If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on police officers, we’re coming after you.”
On June 7 at around 3:30 p.m., the protester allegedly threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, California, which injured one federal officer and damaged government vehicles.
The announcement follows a day of tension across the city as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a series of enforcement actions at multiple businesses, sparking protests and confrontations between demonstrators and federal officers.
According to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, the protestors largely outnumbered officers, as more than 1,000 individuals surrounded a federal building, with some committing violent actions, while Los Angeles police took over two hours to respond, despite being called multiple times.
“What took place in Los Angeles yesterday was appalling. As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement,” Lyons said in an emailed statement to NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times.
“The brave men and women of ICE were in Los Angeles arresting criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers and those with a history of assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and smuggling,” he said.
Lyons said that violent rioters will be held accountable for harming federal officers as ICE continues to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
“Sanctuary politicians would do well to remember that impeding our efforts only endangers their communities, law enforcement officers, and the detainees they claim to support,” he stated.
In a statement to NTD sent on June 7, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Rioters are assaulting ICE enforcement officers, slashing tires, defacing buildings and taxpayer funded property,” noting that 800 protestors had surrounded and at one point breached the first layer of a federal law enforcement building in Los Angeles.
“Mayor Bass must call on this violence to end. The violent rhetoric of politicians has gone too far. This violence against ICE must end.”
In a June 6 statement posted on X, Mayor Karen Bass expressed her disagreement with the “federal immigration enforcement actions.”
“As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place,“ she wrote. ”These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city.”
The mayor condemned violence in the protests in subsequent posts while blaming the Trump administration for the unrest.
“We will always protect the constitutional right for Angelenos to peacefully protest,” she wrote on June 8. “However, violence, destruction and vandalism will not be tolerated in our City and those responsible will be held fully accountable.”
Responding to Bass’s criticism of ICE’s operations, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted on X, “Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced.”
Other city leaders, including 11 of the 15 members of the Los Angeles City Council, issued a joint statement calling the actions “an egregious escalation.”
Federal authorities have recently increased immigration arrests nationwide as part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants. Lyons said the agency averages about 1,600 arrests daily, targeting those identified as “dangerous criminals.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From NTD
Officers, who all appeared to be from the Los Angeles Police Department, used flash bangs and shot projectiles into the crowd as they pushed the protesters through a crowded, popular commercial area where bystanders and restaurant workers rushed to get out of their way.
Some protesters set off fireworks and threw water bottles at the officers, yelling “Shame!” or chanting, “ICE out of LA.”
The protesters had been dispersed by police earlier in the evening from a downtown federal detention center.
Northcom added that the Pentagon has “activated the Marine infantry battalion that was placed in an alert status over the weekend,” and that those 700 Marines requested by the president will now be directed to “seamlessly integrate” with approximately 2,000 state National Guard who have been requested to form “Task Force 51.”
“The activation of the Marines is intended to provide Task Force 51 with adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency,” Northcom said.
“Task Force 51 is comprised of approximately 2,100 National Guard soldiers in a Title 10 status and 700 active-duty Marines. Task Force 51 forces have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force.”
Since the public disorder started, President Donald Trump has requested two California National Guard units, totalling 4,100 soldiers, to be ready for orders to assist state law enforcement, in addition to the 700 Marines.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has been critical of the president’s deployments, said in a post on X, “Trump is trying to provoke chaos by sending 4,000 soldiers onto American soil.”
Newsom then said those “foolish agitators” who commit acts of violence or disobey orders from law enforcement “will be held accountable.”
He filed suit on Monday against the Trump administration for activating his state’s National Guard without seeking his input.
Asked by Fox host Sean Hannity if there’s any evidence showing that the protesters were paid, in light of reports saying that they were being provided with equipment such as face shields and bricks, Noem said “Absolutely.”
“These are organized. These are people that are being paid to do this. You can follow how they behave, the signals they give to each other in these crowds and these protests to instigate violence,” she said. “This is an operation, and it’s professionally done. They’ve done it before, and we’re going to stop it and make sure that we prosecute every single one of them.”
In a social media post, Noem also said: “A message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. @ICEgov will continue to enforce the law.”
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that,” Fetterman said in a social media post Monday evening. He wrote those words above the photo of vehicles ablaze and flames filling the sky.
“This is anarchy and true chaos,” Fetterman said. “My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.”
Some fellow Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have condemned the violence but faulted President Donald Trump for immigration-enforcement actions and for calling in the National Guard to deal with the unrest.
Agents were executing a search warrant at the man’s house "right now," she told Fox News’ Sean Hannity just after 9 p.m. ET Monday.
"We're coming after you … we will find you, and you will go to jail and we will prosecute you federally," Bondi said. Technology is "amazing," she said, and helps police ID people when they're wearing masks. "The mask won't protect you," she said.
In a poster that the White House publicized on June 8, the FBI’s Los Angeles field office said it was offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of a man who allegedly assaulted a federal officer and damaged government property.
The incident occurred on Alonda Boulevard in the L.A.-area city of Paramount, California, on June 7. Around 3:30 p.m. that day, he “threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles,” injuring one officer and damaging government vehicles, according to the poster.
“Chaos is exactly what Trump wanted, and now California is left to clean up the mess,” Newsom wrote in a post on social media platform X.
“We’re working with local partners to surge over 800 additional state and local law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of our LA communities.”
Over 640 of those are with the California Highway Patrol, which is directly subordinate to Newsom.
More than 240 others are from neighboring San Bernardino County, Orange County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County, and some are from within Los Angeles County.
The Epoch Times earlier on June 9 observed officers from Baldwin Park and Santa Monica in the city, both of which come from other parts of the county.
The Pentagon later confirmed this in a social media post.
The additional guardsman "will be called into federal service to support ICE & to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties," said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
Newsom suggested that the move was unnecessary, saying that all but 300 of the 2,000 guardsmen already stationed in the city “are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders.”
“This is Reckless. Pointless. And Disrespectful to our troops,” Newsom said.
The guardsmen would join approximately 700 Marines who have also been ordered to deploy to the city.
Because Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, the guardsmen, as well as the Marines deploying to the city, can only defend federal buildings and personnel, but are not authorized to make arrests or enforce the law.
On Saturday, 29 people were arrested for failure to disperse after an assembly had been declared unlawful.
On Sunday, 21 people were arrested, with charges ranging from attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail, a type of firebomb, assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon, looting, and failure to disperse.
Others have also been arrested by the FBI and other federal authorities, though those numbers haven’t been made public.
During demonstrations, the protesters and rioters erected barricades, requiring the LAPD to use tear gas to disperse what it described as a “hostile crowd.” LAPD officers also expended 600 rounds of “less-lethal munitions,” which could refer to rubber bullets.
During the demonstrations, five LAPD officers and five LAPD horses sustained minor injuries.
Chief Jim McDonnell wrote in a statement that the absence of clear coordination “presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.”
He added that the LAPD has “decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstrations, and we remain confident in our ability to do so professionally and effectively.”
“We are urging open and continuous lines of communication between all agencies to prevent confusion, avoid escalation, and ensure a coordinated, lawful, and orderly response during this critical time."
Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) expressed support for the president, saying he was leading while Newsom let “the state burn to the ground.”
She indicated to The Epoch Times there should be robust involvement by the federal government. “I think the feds need to take over L.A., send in the Marines, send in the National Guard,” she said. Mace added that she thought the country was facing an invasion and insurrection.
“I hope everyone over there gets deported, thrown in prison. … You don't like the U.S. of A, you can leave,” she said.
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) expressed interest in passing legislation to punish individuals who block interstate highways.
“We're looking forward to at least getting that piece of legislation out, get it voted on, and get that over the Senate,” he told The Epoch Times. “It is time that we held people accountable for just blatantly breaking the law.”
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), whose committee could vote on the bill, was more critical of Trump’s actions. Trump’s invocation of authority over the National Guard was “extremely unusual,” he said.
Raskin also praised Newsom’s lawsuit alleging Trump illegally tried to federalize the National Guard. “Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a very solid case in California,” he said.
After Newsom on June 8 dared border czar Tom Homan to arrest him, President Donald Trump was asked on June 9 whether Homan should do so.
“I would do it if I were Tom,” Trump said.
In a response to the comment, Newsom wrote, “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.”
He called the remark “an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
In a post on X, quoting Newsom’s post, Vance replied, “Do your job. That’s all we’re asking.”
In another post, Newsom shot back, “Do YOUR job. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard, calling it an "Unlawful action."
Two Democrats—Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—suggested that Trump, who sent in the National Guard, was fostering conditions for greater tension.
“This is a recipe for confrontation,” Hirono said after being asked about violence and the National Guard. “That is not going to keep our communities safe.”
In response to a question from The Epoch Times, Warren said Trump was trying to “inflame tensions enough out in Los Angeles” so that people would be distracted from the ongoing budget battle in Congress. “Donald Trump is doing everything he can to distract America from seeing what's happening through the budget fight,” she said.
Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) were more supportive of the president. “I think he didn’t have a choice,” Kennedy said when asked about sending in the National Guard and Marines.
He added that he thought Trump needed to “send in federal troops, because it’s clear to me, the governor and mayor were going to do nothing,” he said. He described Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as “sheep in sheep’s clothing, and more sheep is not going to solve the wolf problem.”
Trump has similarly been critical of Newsom and indicated support for arresting him. “It’s crazy,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) commented. “I mean, it’s really, it’s ridiculous.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was more receptive to the idea while speaking on Capitol Hill. “If he’s violating the law, I don’t think he should be treated any differently,” he said.
The Trump administration activated 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from the Camp Pendleton base in California to Los Angeles in the midst of immigration protests and riots in the city, said military officials.
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) said in a statement on June 9 that the Marines “will seamlessly integrate” with troops “who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.”
Earlier, a senior Trump administration official told The Epoch Times that the Marines are being sent to Los Angeles because of increased threats against federal buildings and federal officials in the city during the unrest.
A spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the 700 Marines will arrive sometime in Los Angeles on June 10.
NORTHCOM said in a June 8 statement that about 500 Marines would be on standby, after President Donald Trump already authorized deploying the National Guard to the city.
In a post on social media platform X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said that the Marines are on “high alert,” drawing pushback from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic officials.
Newsom wrote in a post on X that the federal government is “threatening to deploy active-duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens.”
“This is deranged behavior,” he said, drawing a response from Hegseth on social media.
The Pentagon chief wrote on the morning of June 8 that Newsom and local officials have allowed Los Angeles to “burn” and “law enforcement to be attacked” by rioters, suggesting that Marines need to be deployed to quell any unrest.
U.S. Marines have been deployed domestically for disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. They are known for being “first in, last out” in U.S. military interventions abroad, but it is rare for U.S. military troops to be used for domestic policing matters.
In a memorandum issued on June 7, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of National Guard members.
While speaking to reporters alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 8, the president also did not rule out invoking the Insurrection Act.
Trump said on June 9 that he felt he had no choice but to order the deployment to prevent the violence from spiraling out of control.
About 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three spots in the Los Angeles area, NORTHCOM has said. The Department of Homeland Security said the Guard’s mission is to protect federal buildings.
“We are suing Donald Trump,” Newsom wrote in response to the Guard deployment in a post on X. “This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution.”
On the afternoon of June 9, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is filing a lawsuit against the administration over the National Guard deployment. He and Newsom argued that the decision was made without Newsom’s authorization and goes against the wishes of local law enforcement.
“Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends,” Bonta said in a statement.
California’s lawsuit accuses Trump of exceeding his authority under the law and asks a court to declare his actions as unlawful.
Amid a public spat between Newsom and White House border czar Tom Homan, Trump was asked by a reporter at the White House whether Homan should arrest the governor.
“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump said in response. “Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”
Both the White House and Republicans in Congress have argued that the anti-immigration enforcement protests suggest that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act needs to be passed because it will increase border security funding. The bill is currently being considered in the Senate.
“The lawlessness happening in LA is ANOTHER reason why we need to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill IMMEDIATELY,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wrote on X.
Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the U.S.–Mexico border, setting Immigration and Customs Enforcement a daily goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants.
Emel Akan, Iris Tao of NTD, and Reuters contributed to this report.
“In light of increased threats against federal officers and federal buildings, 500 active-duty U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton will be deployed to Los Angeles to help protect federal agents and buildings,” the official told The Epoch Times.
LOS ANGELES—Agents with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) have been deployed to Los Angeles amid anti-deportation riots sweeping the city, with more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on standby to deploy if needed, a source with CBP told The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity.
The deployment of the SWAT-like unit comes amid chaos in America’s second-largest city, where riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have entered their fourth consecutive day. The riots have led to personal and property damage across the city, looting, and other acts of violence that have so far resulted in 21 arrests, according to local authorities.
BORTAC agents are the highly trained arm of the Border Patrol, with a focus on counterterrorism, high-risk warrant service, anti-narcotics operations, and similarly dangerous or complex CBP enforcement activities.
Agents with the specialized unit were deployed domestically to Los Angeles in 1992 to quell the riots that followed the acquittal of the officers involved in the beating of Rodney King. They are also often deployed in the aftermath of natural disasters, to provide security at high-profile events like the Super Bowl, and for other domestic and international law enforcement.
Another source, Manny Bayon—president of the National Border Patrol Council union based in San Diego—confirmed to The Epoch Times that more Border Patrol reinforcements were dispatched to Los Angeles from Yuma, Arizona, El Centro, California, and San Diego.
“ICE was doing the job. They requested reinforcements, so obviously, Border Patrol is going to send people up there,” he said, noting that several other federal units have also gotten involved.
“There are ATF [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], FBI, and DEA units up there, too. They’re BORTAC units. They’re also called SOD units, Special Operations Deployment.”
One video shows CBP arriving in the city on June 7 in a convoy that was attacked by an unidentified masked man who threw rocks at the trucks and vehicles as they passed, resulting in visible cracks on the vehicles’ windshields.
The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect, who was also seen burning trash on a road in the city.
“It’s just disgusting that you have these violent protesters doing their thing—violence and vandalism,” Bayon said.
He was critical of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) response to the riots, saying that local law enforcement should arrest more people committing violence to send a message to other protesters.
Protesters should be arrested for violence just as unruly and drunken, disorderly sports fans are arrested and detained in Sheriff’s department buses at sports events, he said.
“When everybody’s there for the Rose Parade, and people get a little bit drunk, what happens is they have those buses and they start arresting people under the influence. They should have done the same thing, but no, they allow it to happen, and then it just emboldens them to even do more destruction,” he said.
On June 9, the administration announced that 500 U.S. Marines from Twentynine Palms, California, would be deployed to the city to protect federal property and personnel, including Border Patrol and other law enforcement agents in the city.
However, like the National Guardsmen currently deployed to the city, they are barred from making arrests or engaging in law enforcement actions without an invocation of the Insurrection Act, which President Donald Trump has so far declined to apply.
In the interim, officials with CBP, the FBI, and local police retain the power to make arrests and enforce the law.
Jeffries also called the Trump administration's actions regarding immigration enforcement, “egregious overreach” and said the National Guard wasn’t needed in the area because of the thousands of law enforcement officers already in the state.
According to Jeffries, immigration enforcement should focus on keeping communities safe, and the Department of Homeland Security’s information about the criminal history of detainees should be “scrutinized.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not request the deployment, but Trump federalized the National Guard, saying it was necessary to “address the lawlessness.”
Bonta called the deployment an “unlawful action.”
“We only bring cases we believe we will win based on the law and the facts and our analysis,” he added. “We wouldn’t bring this one if we weren’t confident of our success.”
Where Protests Took Place
Huerta has been charged with one count of "conspiracy to impede an officer" under 18 U.S.C. § 372, which carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison.
Huerta allegedly sat cross-legged in front of a gate to prevent federal agents from transporting illegal immigrant detainees, and encouraged others to do the same. The criminal complaint suggests that he was spreading and/or receiving information about the real-time locations of agents in order to protest.
Huerta allegedly screamed expletives at agents, according to an affidavit attached to the criminal complaint.
“In the early hours of Sunday morning, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unlawfully federalized 2,000 California National Guard troops for 60 days with no indication as to when they intend to stand down,” Bonta said during a press conference.
“They did so without authorization from Gov. Newsom and against the wishes of local law enforcement.
“Since Trump announced his plan to deploy troops, the situation on the ground has escalated quickly with unrest growing overnight, causing highways to close and putting people in danger,” he added.
“The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,” Newsom posted on the social media platform X.
Earlier at the White House, Trump was asked by a reporter whether Homan should arrest Newsom over his handling of the riots.
“I’d do it if I were Tom,” Trump said.
Huerta was arrested on June 6 for allegedly obstructing the access of federal agents as they executed a warrant at a worksite in Los Angeles, according to a social media post by Bill Essayli, the interim U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
Essayli said Huerta will be arraigned on June 9.
"Mr. Huerta, a well-known and deeply respected community leader, was exercising his lawful right to observe the conduct of immigration enforcement personnel … It is deeply troubling that a U.S. citizen, union leader, and upstanding member of the Los Angeles community continues to be detained," wrote Schiff, Schumer, and Padilla in a June 9 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
They demanded that a disciplinary review be conducted for the agents who arrested Huerta.
Other Democrats in Congress have taken up Huerta’s cause. After his arrest, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) sought to enter the detention center where Huerta is being held, but she was denied access, which was captured on video and shared on social media.
“We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated,” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for downplaying the violence.
“Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know,” he wrote.
Trump said that his administration “will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE.”
“We do not know where and when the next raids will be. That is the concern because people in this city have a rapid response network,” she told CNN on Monday.
“If they see ICE, they go out, and they protest, and so it’s just a recipe for pandemonium that is completely unnecessary,” she continued.
“If you dial back time and go to Friday, if immigration raids had not happened here, we would not have had the disorder that went on last night.”
Bass appeared to downplay the violence behind the protests, though she said those behind it will be held accountable.
“This is not citywide civil unrest taking place in Los Angeles. A few streets downtown—it looks horrible. People committed crimes,” she said.
“It is absolutely unacceptable, and those people that set cars on fire or did other forms of vandalism will be sought to be arrested and prosecuted.”
The spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the unlawful assembly ended six hours ago and that information is still coming in and, therefore, the number of arrests is subject to change.
The protests, which started on Friday, were in response to ICE carrying out immigration operations to arrest those illegally in the United States.
The Trump administration has federalized and sent the National Guard to Los Angeles to help restore law and order.
“Here’s what I said: They have a right to protest, they have the First Amendment rights, but they can’t cross that line. They can’t cross that line of impediment,” he told MSNBC.
“They can’t cross that line of putting their hands on officers. They can’t cross the line of knowing and concealing an illegal alien,” he continued. “These are all federal crimes, and they’re in statute, and they will be prosecuted.”
Homan initially said that public officials could be arrested for not following the law.
“I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A.,” Homan told NBC News late Saturday. “Every day in L.A., we’re going to enforce immigration law. I don’t care if they like it or not.
“I’ll say about anybody,” Homan also said. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom dared Homan to arrest him.
“He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me,” he told MSNBC. “That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let's go."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom formally requested that the Trump administration pull National Guard troops out of Los Angeles, said he will file a lawsuit, and dared President Donald Trump’s border czar to arrest him.
In a June 8 letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Newsom said the National Guard deployment is unlawful and violates his state’s sovereignty. He also said the move should have been coordinated through his office, saying that local police have the situation under control.
“Trump is putting fuel on this fire,” Newsom wrote on social media platform X. “Commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral.”
On June 8, Newsom also called on the Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, to arrest him in the midst of riots and protests in Los Angeles after Homan suggested that “anybody” could face charges for knowingly harboring an illegal immigrant.
“I’ll say it about anybody,” Homan said broadly in an interview with NBC News after protests and riots erupted across the city over the weekend, responding to a question about whether Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom are at risk of being arrested. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”
Homan has previously warned that local officials could face federal charges if they attempt to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining illegal immigrants. At least two judges—one in Minneapolis and one in New Mexico—have been arrested on federal charges in response to allegations that they harbored or concealed illegal aliens.
In an MSNBC interview on June 8, the governor taunted Homan, calling him a “tough guy” and asking Homan to arrest him.
“Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me,” Newsom said.
A visibly angry Newsom then made reference to illegal immigrants who are being detained in California.
“Let your hands off these poor people,” he said. “They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror.”
The governor said in that interview that he would file a lawsuit against the Trump administration on June 9 for the National Guard deployment.
Hours later, Homan made an appearance on Fox News during a morning interview and was asked to respond to Newsom’s comments.
“What we discussed was, for those protesters that cross the line, I’ve said it many times, you can protest, you get your First Amendment rights,“ Homan told Fox News. ”But when you cross that line, you put hands on an ICE officer, or you destroy property, I’d say that you’re impeding law enforcement or you’re knowingly harboring or concealing an illegal alien. That’s a crime. And the Trump administration is not going to tolerate it. You cross that line, we’re gonna seek prosecution through the Department of Justice.”
With regard to talk of Homan arresting Newsom, the border czar clarified that he was answering a hypothetical question by a reporter.
“The reporter asked me, ‘Well, could Gov. Newsom or Mayor Bass be arrested?’ I said, ‘Well, no one’s above the law. If they cross the line or commit a crime, absolutely they can.’ So there was no discussion about arresting Newsom,” he said.
Homan also sought to clarify what the riots are about.
“I keep hearing ‘ICE raids, ICE raids.’ What happened, how this riot started, is that ICE was serving a series of criminal warrants at a business being investigated for money laundering, ... fraud, and serious violations [including] sending money to criminal cartels in Colombia and Mexico, and funding criminal cartel activities in the United States,” he said.
Amid the unrest, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” U.S. military officials later confirmed that National Guard members arrived in the city over the weekend, and Trump said in a memorandum on June 7 that he had authorized 2,000 members to deploy if needed.
The Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters had concentrated.
Newsom was critical of the decision, saying that it was the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor.
Both Homan and Trump have said, however, that Newsom was slow-walking his state’s response to the violence in Los Angeles.
Newsom “waited two days of that city burning and people getting hurt, officers getting assaulted, before he made any declaration of an unlawful assembly,” Homan told Fox News. “He’s late to the game. President Trump isn’t late to the game.”
In a post on the morning of June 9, Trump wrote that a crackdown is needed and that people concealing their identities with masks should be arrested.
“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote on Truth Social just after midnight.
“ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!” he wrote, adding in another post: “Don’t let these thugs get away with this.”
Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend of the protest. One was detained on June 8 for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police, and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"After careful consideration, the City of Glendale has decided to end its agreement with U.S. Homeland Security/ICE to house federal immigration detainees," wrote the municipal authorities. "This local decision reflects our core values: public safety, transparency, and community trust."
The city said that the "public perception of the ICE contract … has become divisive."
"And while opinions on this issue may vary—the decision to terminate this contract is not politically driven."
Due to capacity issues at ICE detention facilities, the agency relies upon state and local partners to assist with detention.
The city noted that it complies with the California Values Act, or SB 54, which bars state and local law enforcement from assisting ICE with deportation operations.
The governor suggested Hegseth is "in over his head" in his role.
Hegseth issued the order to call the California National Guard into service at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Newsom warned that calling up the National Guard unilaterally is a prelude to similar action in other states that could curb freedoms.
“The people’s lives are at stake … This is a preview of things to come,” Newsom told American YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen in an interview.
“The order he signed doesn’t just apply to [California]. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing,” he added in an accompanying message posted on social media platform X on Monday.
The governor said on Sunday that the state will file a lawsuit over Trump’s deployment of the National Guard, which he called “illegal.”
The bill would make the 2017 tax cuts permanent and includes border, deportation, and energy provisions.
"The riots in Los Angeles prove that we desperately need more immigration enforcement personnel and resources,” she posted.
“America must reverse the invasion unleashed by Joe Biden of millions of unvetted illegal aliens into our country,” she continued.
“That’s why President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill funds at least one million annual removals and hires 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents."
“Jim McDonnell, the highly respected LAPD Chief, just stated that the protesters are getting very much more aggressive, and that he would ‘have to reassess the situation,’ as it pertains to bringing in the troops. He should, RIGHT NOW!!! Don’t let these thugs get away with this,” the president posted at 12:14 a.m.
Two minutes later, Trump called for sending in troops to Los Angeles, though it was unclear to which troops he was referring. At least 300 National Guard troops have already deployed to the area.
“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he posted.
At 12:19 a.m., Trump called for police to “ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!”
21 protesters have been arrested since the protests began on June 6.
“This violence that I’ve seen is disgusting. It’s escalated now since the beginning of this incident,” McDonnell said.
“What we saw the first night was bad. What we’ve seen subsequent to that is getting increasingly worse and more violent.
“Tonight, we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill you.”
- Since June 6, riots have broken out in Los Angeles to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to arrest illegal immigrants.
- President Donald Trump activated National Guard troops to deploy in Los Angeles to quell the protests. At least 300 troops have been deployed so far.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not request the deployment. Trump said that federalizing California’s National Guard was necessary to “address the lawlessness.”
- Newsom has requested that Trump withdraw the National Guard, saying the move will “escalate tensions.” The governor said the state will sue over Trump’s move.
- There have been riots in the streets of Los Angeles, and protesters even blocked a major highway on June 8. Los Angeles Police have cleared the 101 Highway of demonstrators.
- 21 protesters have been arrested as of Sunday night.
- Cars and other objects have been set on fire during the violent protests.
- Protests in Los Angeles are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET.
- Trump has said he could invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 if order is not restored. This would allow the president to restore order by sending in the military.
LOS ANGELES—Several hundred protesters waving Mexican flags demonstrated against Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE) raids at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles on June 8 for the third day in a row.
Against a backdrop of anti-ICE graffiti lining the walls of the Edward R. Roybal federal building, which houses the Department of Homeland Security and various other federal agencies on Alameda Street, dozens of federal officers, including the California National Guard, formed a defensive perimeter around the facility where protesters gathered within yards of the entrance.
The protestors shouted expletive-laden anti-police and ICE rhetoric over bull horns and and carried signed denouncing the ICE raids. One protestor jumped to the roof of a white minivan parked near the facility holding a sign that read “National Guard LOL” (Laughing Out Loud).
The LAPD said in a morning post on X, “Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and voice their opinions. However, vandalizing property and attempting to seriously injure officers, whether Federal or LAPD, is not peaceful.”
However, hours later, the demonstration turned for the worse when the actions of some protesters disturbed the public order, blocking traffic, throwing objects like rocks and bottles at officers, escalating the confrontation with law enforcement with some injuries and property damage.
At about 1:30 p.m., a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter circled the area blasting a warning that the gathering had been declared an “unlawful assembly” and gave the crowd 15-minutes to disperse because the protests had escalated to include acts that posed a threat to public safety.
More than an hour later, as protesters refused to disperse as ordered, LAPD officers arrived on the scene in riot gear. Some of the protestors rushed towards the skirmish line and officers backed away a few hundred feet, forming a solid line across a freeway overpass.
The LAPD fired flash bangs and other non-lethal weapons between themselves and the protesters to deter the crowd.
Along Alameda Street, protesters blocked westbound traffic while some used their cars to create deliberate roadblocks. Dozens stayed on the scene, some throwing items, including water bottles, at LAPD officers.
At least one agitator was arrested.
Several protesters concealed their identities wearing masks and gloves.
Protestors confront federal agents and California National Guardsmen in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Crowds soon moved to the Alameda overpass, relieving the federal officers and National Guardsmen who were protecting the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
Two other simultaneous protests in nearby Boyle Heights and near Los Angeles City Hall were also declared unlawful assemblies due to the threat of violence.
With unlawful assembly declarations, police are authorized to disperse crowds and arrest those who remain, in violation of the order.
Federal vs. State
President Donald Trump has directed top military officials and prosecutors to “liberate Los Angeles” amid ongoing riots by those physically opposing the ICE raids to remove illegal immigrants with deportation orders.
Trump had warned that California officials who work against deportations of illegal aliens could face federal charges.
In a statement on June 8, California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked for withdrawal of the national guardsmen and has called Trump’s deployment of the national guard inflammatory.
“Donald Trump has manufactured a crisis and is inflaming conditions. If he can’t solve it, we will,” Newsom posted on X. “To the bad actors fueling Trump’s flames—California will hold you accountable.”
Protesters confront federal agents and California National Guardsmen in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, released a statement on June 7 accusing “violent mobs” of attacking ICE agents and federal law enforcement agents for carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles.
“These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States,” she wrote.
Leavitt accused Democrat California’s “feckless Democrat leaders” of abdicating their responsibility to protect their citizens.
“That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. The Trump Administration has a zero tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs. These criminals will be arrested and swiftly brought to justice.”
Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney representing California’s Central District, warned on June 7 in an X post that anyone who obstructs federal agents will be arrested.
“Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County. I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions,” Essayli wrote. “Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
At least 60 people were arrested on June 8 after protests against federal immigration raids in San Francisco escalated into violence, according to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).
The SFPD said officers began monitoring the assembly near Sansome and Washington streets at about 7 p.m. on June 8 as protesters engaged in “First Amendment activity.”
The demonstration escalated when some protesters allegedly committed assault and vandalized property, prompting police to declare the assembly unlawful. Many people left the area after the declaration, police said in a statement.
Several protesters had refused to leave and continued to engage in illegal activity as they moved toward Market and Kearny streets, where they vandalized buildings and an SFPD patrol vehicle, according to the statement.
The SFPD said its officers detained protesters who refused to comply with the dispersal order. Three police officers were injured during the incident, with one transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Police also recovered a firearm at the scene.
“Individuals are always free to exercise their First Amendment rights in San Francisco but violence—especially against SFPD officers—will never be tolerated,” the department stated, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Footage shared on social media shows police in riot gear forming a barricade to block protesters gathered outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in San Francisco.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the protest has since “wound down” and that the city is working to clean up the damage and restore public transportation services to full operation.
Lurie stated in a social media post that his office will “never tolerate violent and destructive behavior, and as crowds dwindled, a group that remained caused injuries to police officers, vandalized Muni vehicles, and broke windows of local businesses.”
Protesters confront police in San Francisco on June 8, 2025, in a still from video. (AP/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
Protests against ICE raids began in Los Angeles on June 6, following the arrest of dozens of illegal immigrants in the city as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation operation. Sporadic protests later broke out in New York City and San Francisco.
Authorities deployed National Guard personnel to Los Angeles as protests continued on the third day, on June 8. The Los Angeles Police Department said that several business owners have reported incidents of looting during the protests.
President Donald Trump has directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to take all actions necessary “to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion” and bring an end to the riots.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” the president stated on Truth Social. “Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated on June 8 that he had formally requested that the Trump administration withdraw the deployed troops from Los Angeles and return them to his command.
“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty—inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed,” Newsom stated.
At least 27 people were arrested on June 7 following the Los Angeles protests.
During the third day of protests in Los Angeles, members of the National Guard faced off with demonstrators, which led to tear gas being fired at a growing crowd near a federal complex in the city, according to video footage.
The confrontation broke out in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, as a group shouted insults at National Guard members lined shoulder to shoulder behind plastic riot shields. Near downtown, at least four Waymo self-driving cars were set on fire. Flash-bang crowd control grenades were deployed throughout the evening.
Jack Phillips and Joseph Lord contributed to this report.
An Australian TV reporter has been hit by a rubber bullet while covering the anti-immigration enforcement riots in Los Angeles.
This comes as the U.S. government has taken strong measures to address the escalating situation.
Lauren Tomasi, U.S. correspondent for Nine News, was hit in the leg when she was reporting on the violent demonstration.
A video released by the TV channel showed Tomasi and her cameraman standing alongside other demonstrators at the front of the protest.
Police officers were seen blocking the road to a federal building and using rubber bullets to control the crowd.
As Tomasi finished her reporting, an officer shot in the reporter’s direction, hitting her lower left calf.
Tomasi then grabbed her leg and ran toward the back of the protest with the cameraman. She also reassured others that she was “good.”
How Did the Riot Break Out?
On June 6, a group of immigrant rights supporters gathered outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles to protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) latest series of operations to crack down on illegal immigrants who have been identified as “dangerous criminals” in the city.
The protest then escalated when demonstrators attempted to storm the building, prompting federal staff to request assistance from local law enforcement.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded by declaring the protest “unlawful assembly” and deploying riot control measures, including tear gas, to disperse the protestors, resulting in clashes between the two sides.
According to videos on social media, protestors were seen throwing projectiles, including rocks and concrete, at police officers while calling for authorities to release the illegal immigrants.
Some violent protestors set fire to vehicles while others were seen waving the Mexican flag.
A protestor holds up a Mexican flag as burning cars line the street in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 08, 2025. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
As the confrontation continued, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to deploy National Guard troops on June 7.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons warned that protestors could face consequences for attacking law enforcement while refusing to give in to their demand.
“These violent rioters will be held accountable if they harm federal officers, and make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens,” Lyons said on June 7.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticised the deployment of the National Guard, saying that it was an overreach of federal authority and would escalate the tension.
The governor then called for the withdrawal of the guardsmen, which was rejected by Trump, who said the federal government would step in if Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could not do their jobs.
On June 8, Trump announced that he would send military officials and prosecutors to “liberate Los Angeles” while calling protestors “violent, insurrectionist mobs.”
Looters break into a gas station's market place in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., on June 8, 2025. (Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles has long been known as a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants in the United States.
The city has adopted policies that prohibit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities while pushing back against Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump and California, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, have been locked in a policy disagreement over male athletes in girls’ high school sports, leading to legal action and a possible loss of federal funding for the state.
The power struggle hit a fever pitch after high school athlete AB Hernandez, a transgender-identifying student in California, qualified for and competed in multiple female high school events in the California Interscholastic Federation state track-and-field championships.
Trump cited his Feb. 5 executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” that requires protection for girls and women in sports, banning male athletes from participating in events for females.
California allowed Hernandez to participate in two girls’ events at the May 31 championship, which Hernandez won, despite Trump’s threat to rescind federal funding if the state violated his executive order.
The Dispute
Trump’s executive order conflicts with a 2013 California law signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, who allowed students to participate in sex-segregated programs and use school facilities that aligned with their preferred gender identities.
Trump issued a warning to the state of California on May 27, saying he would revoke federal education funding if the state did not adhere to his executive order prohibiting male athletes from participating in female sports, no matter their chosen gender identities.
“California ... continues to ILLEGALLY allow MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,” the president wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”
The president said the state’s federal funding, which totals about $13.6 billion annually, could be cut, possibly permanently, because of the lack of compliance.
After the president’s action, the California Interscholastic Federation announced a policy change that allows additional “biological female” athletes to compete in the state championships for each transgender-identifying athlete who places in races, attempting to address concerns about competitive fairness.
Newsom’s office offered support for the program change, with spokesperson Izzy Gardon telling The Epoch Times by email: “[The] proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness—a model worth pursuing. The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”
Following Hernandez’s wins in several categories, Trump renewed his promise to impose fines, saying in a June 2 post that the state could see “large-scale fines.”
Newsom on June 6 floated the idea that California could withhold tens of billions of dollars in federal taxes, in response to a CNN report that the Trump administration was considering canceling large amounts of federal funding for the state.
“Californians pay the bills for the federal government,” Newsom wrote in a post on social media platform X. “We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back. Maybe it’s time to cut that off.”
A July report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government think tank found that California paid $83 billion more to the federal government than it received in 2022.
The Legal Landscape
Trump’s February executive order states that it aims to preserve female sports and prohibit the use of female locker rooms by male students.
“It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy,” the order reads.
California’s 2013 law, called the “School Success and Opportunity Act,” requires schools to allow students to be involved in programs and school facilities “consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.”
Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said in a letter sent to the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs school sports, that there could be legal fallout from the state’s actions.
According to Dhillon, it is the federal government’s view that allowing transgender-identifying athletes to compete in girls’ sports violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
“Knowingly depriving female students of athletic opportunities and benefits on the basis of their sex would constitute unconstitutional sex discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause,” she wrote.
More recently, Newsom, who is seen as a likely 2028 presidential candidate, has said that he also believes that it is “deeply unfair” to allow male athletes who identify as transgender to compete in female-only sports.
Newsom told Charlie Kirk on the first episode of the governor’s new “This is Gavin Newsom” podcast, “I revere sports, and so the issue of fairness is completely legit.”
Similar Issues
The same issue is being debated nationwide, including in Oregon, where Zachary Rose, a male student who identifies as transgender, took fifth place in the girls’ varsity high jump at the Oregon School Activities Association high school track-and-field state championships on May 31.
Reese Eckard of Sherwood High School and Alexa Anderson of Tigard High School, who finished third and fourth in the same event, stepped down from the podium and turned their backs, seemingly in protest.
The state also made headlines in 2024 when Aayden Gallagher, a male who also identifies as transgender, took first place in the women’s 200-meter race at the 2024 track-and-field state championships.
States across the nation have seen similar issues with gender separation in sports, including Minnesota and Maine, which have found themselves involved in recent legal actions.
The issue of biological males participating in women’s sports has been downplayed by some, including Newsom’s office, which asserts that fewer than 10 transgender-identifying college athletes are playing nationwide out of more than 510,000 participants.
However, an August 2024 report from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights shows that transgender-identifying athletes have won nearly 900 medals in competitions across amateur athletics against women over the past five years.
Travis Gillmore contributed to this report.
Trump Calls on Officials to ‘Liberate LA’
Trump had said that he was directing top military officials and prosecutors to “liberate Los Angeles” amid ongoing riots related to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids targeting illegal immigration in the city.
Newsom Asks for Removal of National Guard
National Guard troops were also confirmed to be in Los Angeles after Trump ordered their deployment over the weekend, following days of protests and riots in the city.
‘Law and Order’
Over the weekend, Trump confirmed in a signed memorandum that he would deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to the violence.
