Trump orders law enforcement to ‘liberate’ LA from ‘migrant invasion’ amid clashes over ICE raids
Donald Trump has vowed to “liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion,” amid violent clashes between members of the state national guard and anti-immigration enforcement protesters.
The president took to Truth Social on Sunday, where he promised that “the Illegals will be expelled” and that the city would be “set free,” as troops confronted demonstrators on the streets of downtown LA – using tear gas and “less lethal munitions” to disperse crowds.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” he wrote. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.
“I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.
“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Tensions escalated throughout the day on Sunday, following on from unrest the previous evening. Images showed vehicles on fire, and protesters throwing fireworks towards armed and helmeted law enforcement officers.
Police and demonstrators later squared off outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, with graffiti reading “f*** ICE,” “f*** LAPD,” written across nearby buildings. On Sunday afternoon the LAPD declared that the city was on “tactical alert.”
Clashes began after ICE operations across Los Angeles County resulted in the arrests of 118 immigrants, including 44 people on Friday – the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump also told reporters on Sunday that the administration was “going to have troops everywhere,” even threatening to make good on the promise of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to send in U.S. Marines to help enforce order.
When asked what “the bar” was for mobilizing active duty Marines, the president replied: “The bar is what I think it is.”
“We’re gonna have troops everywhere, we’re not going to let this happen to our country, we’re not going to let our country be torn apart like it was under Biden.”
Trump also introduced a new phrase in response to the ongoing unrest in Los Angeles. “When they spit at people— they spit, that’s their new thing—when that happens, I have a little statement: they spit, we hit,” he told reporters on Sunday… If that happens, they get hit very hard.”
The phrase is reminiscent of a previous, controversial adage introduced by Trump during the protests of 2020 – “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Despite the president’s goading, authorities in Los Angeles urged residents to keep calm, with Governor Gavin Newsom telling Californians: “Don’t give Donald Trump what he wants.”
