LA Faces Federal Fury: ICE Raids, National Guard, and Arrest Threats

Trump's Border Czar

The immigration debate in Los Angeles reached a fever pitch this weekend as Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, threatened that even top California officials could face arrest if they interfere with federal immigration enforcement. Homan’s stark warning comes as the city reels from large-scale protests and a fresh deployment of the National Guard.

“Every day in L.A., we’re going to enforce immigration law,” Homan declared in an interview with NBC News. “I don’t care if they like it or not.”

This defiance set the stage for a dramatic showdown with California leaders, who are urging calm while protests intensify across the county.

⚠️ Raids and Rising Tensions

Protests erupted Saturday after news spread that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting raids across Los Angeles. Demonstrators took to the streets, some forming human blockades around ICE vehicles, while others clashed with police. Videos posted online show intense scenes, including a protester struck by a vehicle they were trying to stop.

Law enforcement responded with tear gas and what appeared to be less-lethal rounds as tensions escalated. By Saturday night, 11 people had been arrested for failing to disperse.

Despite the backlash, Homan was adamant that ICE agents will continue daily operations throughout L.A. “We’re not backing down,” he said, reiterating that immigration law will be enforced regardless of opposition.

🪖 National Guard Deployed, Local Leaders Push Back

On Sunday, National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles — a move ordered by President Donald Trump, following through on a promise to crack down on protesters. The arrival of armed troops in the city’s streets has been condemned by local leaders, who say it risks further inflaming the situation.

Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom both expressed alarm, warning that federal actions could provoke even more violence. Bass has so far avoided direct confrontation with federal authorities, but Homan’s comments suggest any attempts to shield undocumented immigrants could be met with criminal charges.

🚔 A Warning to California Officials

Homan didn’t mince words when asked whether arrests could include elected leaders. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien,” he said. “It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”

He clarified that he didn’t believe Bass had “crossed the line yet,” but stressed that no one was above the law.

Newsom’s office has not responded publicly to Homan’s statements. Bass’s team also declined to comment.

🔎 ICE’s Expansive Target List

Meanwhile, the scope of ICE raids in Los Angeles has left immigrant communities on edge. Homan said agents were focusing on threats to public safety, citing a raid in the Fashion District as part of a criminal investigation. But he also emphasized that anyone in the U.S. illegally is fair game.

“If you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table,” Homan said. Raids have been reported at workplaces, including Home Depot parking lots, where day laborers often gather. Homan confirmed ICE is acting on “final orders” — deportation orders that have already been issued by immigration courts.

🏥 “Misinformation” and Real Fears

Homan pushed back against allegations that ICE was operating at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and churches, calling them “misinformation.” But fear is real among many immigrant families, especially as some have been detained while attending immigration interviews — a process once seen as routine and safe.

He also unleashed a blistering critique of California’s “Sanctuary State” law, which limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agents. Homan called Newsom an “embarrassment for the state” and claimed sanctuary policies release criminals back into communities. 🚨

California officials counter that while local jails must notify ICE of certain inmates set for release, they won’t hold anyone past their scheduled release date if ICE fails to show up on time. Still, the political rhetoric has grown increasingly hostile.

⚡ “Someone’s Gonna Get Hurt”

As Los Angeles braces for more protests in the days ahead, the city stands on edge. Homan’s blunt warning captured the tension: “The rhetoric keeps rising and rising and rising — someone’s gonna get hurt,” he said. “If this violence isn’t tamped down, someone’s gonna die, and that’s just a cold fact of life.”

With ICE raids continuing and National Guard troops on patrol, the standoff between local officials and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown shows no sign of slowing down.📰

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