Trump Declares LA 'Rebellion' as National Guard Deployed
President Trump's top immigration official says California's top leaders could end up behind bars. In a dramatic escalation that's sending shockwaves through California's political circles, Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan publicly warned that Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could face federal prosecution if they interfere with immigration enforcement efforts, NBC News reported. The threat came just hours after 2,000 National Guard troops were sent into Los Angeles to suppress growing protests over aggressive ICE raids — a deployment both Newsom and Bass slammed as "inflammatory," as reported by The Washington Post.
Now, Trump has escalated further by ordering the deployment of 700 Marines to Los Angeles, bypassing the Insurrection Act by limiting their role to guarding immigration agents and government buildings, according to U.S. Northern Command. The move, which has not been seen since the 1992 L.A. riots, has been condemned by Newsom as a "blatant abuse of power," and could trigger legal action by the state, as reported by the BBC.
The battle lines are drawn, and now the question isn't just about immigration. It's about power. Who's in charge — Washington or Sacramento?
Homan's Warning: 'You Cross That Line, It's a Felony'
Tom Homan, appointed by Trump to lead immigration enforcement strategy, has never minced words. And this time, he didn't hold back. Homan said immigration enforcement is slated to continue "every day" in Los Angeles, and that elected officials who impede ICE operations could face arrest, refusing to rule out action against Newsom and Bass, as reported by NBC News.
He pointed to federal law that makes it a felony to knowingly harbor or conceal undocumented immigrants or to obstruct federal law enforcement. Homan did clarify that Bass had not yet crossed that line — but his comments signaled that federal authorities are prepared to act if they believe state leaders are standing in their way.
This isn't just talk. Homan told reporters that he may ask the Department of Justice to investigate whether Newsom and Bass contributed to the weekend's anti-ICE demonstrations, some of which turned violent.
The Raids That Sparked a Firestorm
What started it all was a sweep.
On June 7, ICE carried out large-scale immigration raids across Los Angeles County, targeting businesses and public spaces, including Home Depot locations known as job-seeking sites for day laborers. Homan said these operations were "prioritizing" threats to public safety, as reported by The Washington Post. He also admitted that all undocumented individuals — not just those with criminal records — were subject to arrest.
The raids triggered widespread protests. Demonstrators flooded streets in downtown L.A., Compton and Paramount, some clashing with federal agents. Tear gas was fired. Dozens of protesters have been arrested. At least one person was hit by a car during a standoff with authorities.
Los Angeles police confirmed 11 arrests the first night. Federal agents said they were attacked with fireworks and bottles, prompting backup requests that took nearly an hour to be answered — a delay that only intensified the administration's frustration with local authorities.
Trump Orders the National Guard Into LA
The chaos on the ground was the final straw for the president.
On June 8, Trump used federal authority to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. The president's order invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code — the same law used during major civil unrest — stating that the protests amounted to a "rebellion" requiring federal intervention. Trump said in a Truth Social post that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass "can't do their jobs," and the "Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" as reported by The Washington Post.
The move marks one of the most aggressive assertions of federal power in a blue state in recent memory. Newsom fired back, accusing the White House of manufacturing a crisis for political theater. Newsom wrote on X, "The Secretary of Defense is now threatening to deploy active-duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens. This is deranged behavior," as reported by The Washington Post.
Bass issued a public plea for calm, insisting that city authorities had the protests under control without outside help. "I am deeply angered by what has taken place ... These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. We will not stand for this," as reported by Reuters.
Who's Breaking the Law?
That's the question now swirling around the federal threats against Newsom and Bass. Homan says obstructing immigration enforcement is a felony. But both state and city officials insist they’re following the law — their law.
California's "Sanctuary State" policy, enacted in 2017, limits cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. While state prisons notify ICE when inmates are flagged for potential deportation, local jails and police departments are not required to hold them past their release dates unless they are charged with serious crimes.
Homan has long railed against these protections. In the same interview, he labeled Newsom an "embarrassment for the state" for maintaining a sanctuary framework that, in his view, releases dangerous criminals into the public, as reported by NBC News. He also suggested that federal authorities may not differentiate between violent offenders and civil immigration violators when enforcing deportations.
But so far, no charges have been filed — and no specific actions by Newsom or Bass have been cited as criminal.
Fear, Protest, and a City on Edge
Protests continued across L.A. over the weekend, with demonstrators accusing ICE of conducting arrests at immigration interviews and threatening vulnerable communities. While Homan denied that agents were targeting schools or hospitals, trust remains low among many local residents.
The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, has signaled that more enforcement is on the way — part of what Trump has promised will be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
As federal and state leaders dig in, the legal and political stakes are climbing fast.
What Comes Next?
No officials have been arrested — yet. But the threats alone have already ignited a new level of confrontation between the Trump administration and California leadership. If the Department of Justice pursues charges against state officials, it would mark an unprecedented moment in modern immigration enforcement — and could trigger a wave of court battles over states' rights and federal authority.
Homan warned that if violence continues, someone could lose their life. The tone of this standoff has made one thing very clear: this is more than just another immigration debate. It's a fight over who gets to call the shots in America's largest state — and it's just getting started.
References: Trump's border czar threatens arrest for immigration interference, warns Newsom and Bass not to 'cross that line' | Gov. Gavin Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass could face federal charges over response to ICE raids, Trump's border czar Tom Homan says | Trump activates National Guard after LA-area protests | Trump orders Marines to LA in additional deployment as unrest calms | Trump deploys National Guard as Los Angeles protests against immigration agents continue
