Paramount, California, became the epicenter of escalating tensions in Los Angeles over the weekend as protests erupted in response to a series of ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants. The unrest began early Saturday morning when federal agents were spotted outside a Home Depot in Paramount, fueling rumors of another raid and drawing a crowd of demonstrators.
As the day progressed, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, and clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement. Authorities deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds, while protesters blocked streets with shopping carts and hurled objects at officers The chaos spread to nearby Compton, and several arrests were made, including prominent union leader David Huerta, president of SEIU California, who was charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer.
President Trump’s decision to deploy,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles marked a dramatic escalation, with Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass condemning the move as inflammatory and calling for peaceful protest Over 100 undocumented immigrants were arrested in the weeklong ICE operations, while dozens of protesters and law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the confrontations.
The situation in Paramount highlights the deep divisions over immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, a city with a large immigrant population and a self-declared sanctuary status. As National Guard troops and federal agents remain visible in the area, community leaders and officials continue to urge calm amid ongoing demonstrations.
