Los Angeles descended into chaos on June 8, 2025, as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids turned violent, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to declare an unlawful assembly and arrest dozens.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, locked in a high-stakes standoff with President Trump’s administration, dared Border Czar Tom Homan to arrest him for opposing the crackdown, escalating tensions as National Guard troops rolled into the city.

The clash, sparked by immigration sweeps targeting illegal immigrants, has exposed deep divisions between state and federal leaders, with both sides accusing the other of inflaming the unrest.

“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command,” Newsom posted on X, calling the National Guard’s presence a “serious breach of state sovereignty” that’s “inflaming tensions.”

He doubled down on MSNBC, challenging Homan directly:

“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy. I don’t give a damn.”

Homan, unmoved, told NBC News, “I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A. I don’t care if they like it or not.”

When asked if Newsom or LA Mayor Karen Bass could face arrest for interfering, he added, “I’ll say it about anybody.”

The protests, now in their third day, erupted after ICE arrested at least 44 people on June 6, including union leader David Huerta, during raids on businesses like Ambiance Apparel.

“You cannot just come into the community and terrorize citizens the way you did,” Congressional Democrats said at a Saturday press conference, decrying the sweeps.

Protesters, waving Mexican flags and blocking highways, clashed with law enforcement, setting cars ablaze and pelting Border Patrol vans with cinder blocks.

“An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared for the area of Alameda between 2nd St and Aliso St,” LAPD’s Central Division posted on X, warning of arrests and “less lethal munitions.”

Trump, blasting Newsom and Bass as “incompetent,” defended the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops.

“Governor Gavin Newscum and ‘Mayor’ Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done,” he wrote on Truth Social, calling protesters “troublemakers and insurrectionists.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth upped the ante, saying on X, “If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized—they are on high alert.”

Newsom shot back, calling the threat “deranged behavior.”

Local leaders are caught in the crossfire. “The feds can leave, we are left behind to deal with the consequences,” LAPD Chief Brian O’Hara said, describing agents “getting into hand-to-hand situations” with protesters.

Mayor Bass, criticized by Rep. Darrell Issa for “fighting for illegal aliens,” called the raids “chaotic isolation” tactics that “sow terror.”

Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Newsom, saying on Face the Nation:

“If he was doing his job, people wouldn’t have gotten hurt the last couple of days.”

As graffiti reading “F*** ICE” and “Kill all cops” marred downtown LA, Newsom acknowledged the chaos but pointed fingers. “These kids on the car, folks that are taking advantage of this—these aren’t peaceful protesters,” he told MSNBC. “They need to be called out. They need to be arrested.”

With Newsom planning to sue over the Guard deployment and protests showing no signs of slowing, LA remains a powder keg, testing the limits of state and federal power.

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