California Governor Gavin Newsom is responding to threats of arrest from the Trump administration as federal immigration raids continue to spark protests across Los Angeles. The clash has intensified tensions between state and federal officials, with Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan warning that leaders who obstruct enforcement efforts could face legal consequences.
What to know:
In a national TV interview, Newsom challenged Homan’s threat, saying, “Arrest me. Let’s go.”
Homan warned that officials who “harbor or conceal” undocumented immigrants could face felony charges.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass dismissed the threat as “unnecessary” and said she won’t brawl with the federal government.
President Trump has authorized at least 2,000 National Guard troops to respond to the protests, a move criticized by Newsom and Bass.
Newsom sent a formal letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting that the order be rescinded.
The protests follow a series of immigration raids across California and coincide with broader national debates on immigration and federal overreach.
What you missed:
Stay with Newsweek for live updates.
11:37 AM EDT
City leaders urge calm as protests over immigration raids continue in Los Angeles
Paramount, California, city manager John Moreno and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chair pro tempore Hilda Solis appeared on CNN News Central on Monday, urging protesters to remain peaceful amid ongoing demonstrations over federal immigration raids in the Los Angeles area.
Moreno described the last 24 hours in Paramount as “calm and quiet,” crediting the lack of overnight protests and minimal disruption. He acknowledged the presence of National Guard troops near a Department of Homeland Security office but emphasized the city’s commitment to free speech, with limits. “When it comes to vandalizing and destroying private property, that’s uncalled for,” Moreno said. “That will not be tolerated by our L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.”
Solis said L.A. County had “not ruled out” formally requesting National Guard support if unrest escalates. She urged demonstrators to avoid violence, saying, “We understand people need to express their concern and their emotions… But control them. Don’t be disruptive. Don’t feed into this narrative that we don’t care.”
About 50 people have been arrested on Monday in connection with the protests.
11:31 AM EDT
Gavin says his lawsuit will challenge National Guard order on grounds it did not coordinate with governor
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said California will sue the Trump administration on the grounds it did not coordinate with the governor of the state before deploying the National Guard.
Newsom told MSNBC that the president’s executive order specifically notes that the Department of Defense “had to coordinate with the governor of the state. They never coordinated with the governor of the state.”
The California governor added that Trump had “exacerbated the conditions” through his use of the National Guard, which he called “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act.”
11:25 AM EDT
School walk out being promoted on Instagram
The Party for Socialism & Liberation is organizing a student walkout at 11 a.m. PT in protest of the National Guard deployment.
“Tomorrow we continue the fight against ICE. We won’t stop till ICE is out. FUERA ICE! NATIONAL GUARD GO AWAY,” the group wrote in a post on Instagram.
11:12 AM EDT
Mexico condemns violence in LA protests, calls for fair treatment of detained migrants
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the violence during protests in Los Angeles that led to the arrest of 42 Mexican nationals, urging peaceful demonstrations and fair legal treatment for those detained. “We do not agree with violent actions as a form of protest,” she said, referencing incidents such as the burning of police vehicles. “We call on the Mexican community to act peacefully and not fall for provocations.”
Sheinbaum said Mexico had activated consular support to ensure detained citizens receive legal counsel and due process. Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente confirmed that four of the 42 detainees had already been deported—two through existing removal orders and two voluntarily. The remaining individuals are being reviewed case by case.
De la Fuente also emphasized that most undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. are long-term residents and contributing members of society. “Almost 95% of the 4.9 million undocumented compatriots have lived there more than five years,” he said. “They were working when detained—this must be considered in how they are treated.”
Tras los disturbios en Los Ángeles, California, provocados por redadas antimigrantes, (📹 *1*) la presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein), pide a los connacionales en esa ciudad de EEUU 🇺🇸, que no caigan en provocaciones.
📹 *2*: Hace unos días, dijo: “de ser… pic.twitter.com/dInYzmlEvk
— Fernando Pérez Corona (@ferperezcorona) June 9, 2025
11:09 AM EDT
California Republicans react to Donald Trump deploying National Guard
California Republican lawmakers are largely backing President Donald Trump‘s decision to send the National Guard into Los Angeles amid immigration protests, with Representative Kevin Kiley telling Newsweek that the president chose to “protect federal officers and LA citizens because Governor Newsom has refused to do so.”
Representative Kiley responded to Trump’s move to call in the National Guard in a statement to Newsweek.
“The acts of violence, lawlessness, and obstruction we are seeing in Los Angeles pose an ongoing risk to public safety,” Kiley said. “The President has chosen to protect federal officers and LA citizens because Governor Newsom has refused to do so. I am praying for everyone’s safety during this time.”
He said ICE officials are looking for “illegal immigrants with criminal convictions and existing deportation orders” and criticized Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the situation, accusing them of choosing to “obstruct and interfere with these standard operations.”
10:53 AM EDT
Trump’s National Guard deployment in California sparks legal questions over state authority
Trump mobilized the National Guard by invoking Title 10, Section 12406 of the U.S. Code, which permits the federal government to activate the Guard in response to an invasion, rebellion, or when local authorities cannot enforce the law.
The statute allows the president to federalize the Guard but stipulates that orders must be issued through state governors.
However, California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly stated he did not request the National Guard during the deployment, making it the first activation without a governor’s request since 1965. During domestic deployments, this raised legal and political questions about federal authority and state sovereignty.
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1978 restricts the use of federal military personnel for domestic law enforcement. As a result, while the National Guard units mobilized by Trump in Los Angeles can support federal agents and secure federal properties, they are prohibited from engaging in direct law enforcement activities such as arresting protestors.
10:41 AM EDT
One in four detained by immigration enforcers within the US has no criminal record: Report
According to the American Immigration Council, one in four individuals detained by President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcers within the United States has no criminal record.
In response to an MSNBC interview clip in which border czar Tom Homan acknowledged that not everyone arrested by ICE has a criminal record, senior fellow Reichlin-Melnick said, “Data from the last six years, including 1.5 years of Trump’s first term, reveals how this is completely unprecedented. It also helps explain the growing backlash.”
As of June 1, nearly 25% of the people arrested by ICE in the interior and sent to detention had NO CRIMINAL RECORD.
Data from the last six years, including 1.5 years of Trump’s first term, reveals how this is completely unprecedented. It also helps explain the growing backlash. https://t.co/41iGD6E34Z pic.twitter.com/CypBS3i0nj
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) June 9, 2025
10:29 AM EDT
More protests planned in Los Angeles over ICE raids and National Guard presence
Demonstrations are set to continue in Los Angeles today as activists protest recent immigration enforcement actions and the deployment of the National Guard.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will lead a peaceful rally at noon PT in downtown LA, demanding an end to ICE raids and calling for the release of SEIU California president David Huerta, who was detained and injured during a protest Friday.
Separately, the Party for Socialism & Liberation is organizing a student walkout at 11 a.m. PT to protest both the ICE operations and military presence near the Federal Building.
10:16 AM EDT
IN PICTURES: Protest in LA
People take cover as a fire work explodes during a protest near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025.
AP Photo/Ethan Swope
A flash bomb explodes on the 101 Freeway near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night’s immigration raid protest.
Eric Thayer/AP Photo
Protesters are seen on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night’s immigration raid protest.
Eric Thayer/AP Photo
10:03 AM EDT
Leavitt: ‘Gavin Newsom did nothing as violent riots erupted’
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom on social media, accusing him of inaction during recent violent protests in Los Angeles.
Gavin Newsom did nothing as violent riots erupted in Los Angeles for days.
Federal law enforcement officers were attacked by violent radicals and illegal criminals waving foreign flags because Governor Newsom was too weak to protect the city.
The Los Angeles Police Chief has… https://t.co/kuoBOs4rUJ
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 9, 2025
09:49 AM EDT
Australian reporter hit by non-lethal round during LA protest
An Australian journalist was struck by a nonlethal round while reporting live from downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, as tensions flared between protesters and riot police.
Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for 9News, was hit in the leg at close range by an officer who raised their weapon while standing behind her. Video of the moment shows Tomasi crying out in pain and clutching her leg as she and her cameraman moved away from the police line.
“You just (expletive) shot the reporter,” someone can be heard yelling off-camera.
Tomasi had been covering clashes between officers and demonstrators when the incident occurred. She was not wearing protective gear. Despite the scare, she later confirmed to 9News on Monday that she was safe and unharmed.
09:36 AM EDT
Newsom calls Trump’s National Guard move illegal and reckless
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump’s decision to federalize the California National Guard, calling it “illegal” and “immoral” in an interview with Fox News.
“Donald Trump is reckless, he’s immoral,” Newsom said. “He’s taken the illegal and unconstitutional act of federalizing the National Guard, and he’s putting lives at risk.”
Newsom said Trump bypassed the state’s authority and failed to collaborate or establish clear rules of engagement. He warned that the decision has worsened already tense conditions in the state.
09:23 AM EDT
Newsom calls Trump ‘unhinged’
In a tweet, Newsom shared a portion of an interview where he called Trump “unhinged.”
“This is serious,” he said. “People’s lives are at stake. Reputation in this country is at stake. Great American cities and states. This is a preview for things to come. This isn’t about LA, per se. It’s about us today.”
He added: “This guy is unhinged. Donald Trump is unhinged right now. And this is just another proof point of that.”
This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted.
He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard.
The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA.
It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing.
We’re suing him.pic.twitter.com/O3RAGlp2zo
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 9, 2025
09:07 AM EDT
Mayor of Paramount says city is calm after protests, urges peaceful action
John Moreno, mayor of Paramount, California, said the city has been “calm and quiet” in the last 24 hours following Friday’s anti-immigration enforcement protests.
Moreno told CNN there were no protests overnight or on Saturday, but noted the National Guard and their equipment were stationed near the Department of Homeland Security office.
He acknowledged that the presence of National Guard troops in a small community like Paramount could cause “fear and uncertainty” and hoped they would not be needed to assist law enforcement with protesters.
Moreno supported the right to protest but urged participants to keep demonstrations peaceful. He warned that the LA County Sheriff’s Department would not tolerate vandalism or disruption of private property.
08:54 AM EDT
LA protest spreading to Vermont: Report
A new protest has surfaced, and it is headed to Vermont tomorrow. The protests are in response to immigration raids being carried out by the Trump administration.
Trump’s administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous ICE raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation. The president announced on Saturday evening that he had authorized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after violence against law enforcement, specifically, ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.
While the raids are following legal directives from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency “categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles.”
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
08:41 AM EDT
SEIU California plans Capitol protest after leader’s arrest
The Service Employees International Union of California announced plans to protest at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, following the arrest of its president, David Huerta, The New York Times reported.
Federal agents detained Huerta on Friday during a protest against an immigration raid at a downtown Los Angeles workplace. He was briefly hospitalized for an injury sustained during the incident and is currently in federal custody.
Huerta is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday. The union said the planned demonstration will draw attention to the Trump administration’s aggressive and unjust immigration enforcement.
08:27 AM EDT
FBI shifts priorities under Patel, puts violent crime and immigration at top
The FBI is undergoing a significant shift in priorities under Director Kash Patel, who has placed violent crime and immigration enforcement at the top of the bureau’s agenda, in line with Trump’s law-and-order platform. Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino say the agency is “returning to its roots,” as it ramps up efforts to combat gangs, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.
The bureau’s updated mission list now begins with “Crush Violent Crime,” a notable departure from its two-decade focus on counterterrorism. The changes coincide with disbanding some national security-focused task forces, a proposed budget cut, and high-level personnel changes.
Critics, including former FBI officials, warn the pivot could leave the U.S. vulnerable to complex foreign threats, particularly from China and Russia. Still, the FBI insists it remains committed to counterterrorism and national security, even as it pursues high-profile immigration and gang cases using expanded definitions of terrorism.
Patel says the agency is simply following Trump’s directive. “The FBI has heard those directions,” he said, “and we are determined to deliver.”
08:14 AM EDT
What are the No Kings protests?
A protester attending a “Hands Off protest in Washington, D.C. holds a sign that reads “He was elected president not king” on April 5 2025.
A protester attending a “Hands Off protest in Washington, D.C. holds a sign that reads “He was elected president not king” on April 5 2025.
DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
More “No Kings” protests are planned across the country on June 14, the latest anti-Trump protest organized amid his second term in office.
According to the event’s organizers, the “No Kings” protests are a “nationwide day of defiance” to “reject authoritarianism. ” Dozens of grassroots groups are organizing the protests nationwide.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of those groups, told Newsweek that the goal of the protest is to send a message that the United States “has no kings” amid Trump’s military parade in the nation’s capital, which coincides with the president’s 79th birthday.
“He is planning to roll tanks through the streets of D.C. in celebration of his birthday, and that’s the kind of thing you normally wouldn’t see in a constitutional republic, certainly not America,” Levin said. “It’s something you’d see in North Korea or other authoritarian regimes.”
The point of the protest isn’t just to “show up and be covered,” he said.
“This is actually to send a strong message to leaders and institutions who are considering right now whether to capitulate or whether to fight back, and to send a message that this period we are in right now, this period of authoritarian breakthrough, is temporary. And democracy will reassert itself,” Levin said.
07:59 AM EDT
Trump travel ban targeting 12 nations takes effect today
President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban, affecting citizens from 12 predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries, took effect Monday, drawing renewed criticism amid ongoing immigration crackdowns.
The ban applies to applicants from Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, and Somalia, and adds restrictions on travelers from other countries such as Cuba and Venezuela. Individuals with valid visas can still enter the U.S., but new visa applications will be rejected unless they qualify for narrow exemptions.
Unlike Trump’s earlier travel bans, this proclamation is more targeted and framed around visa overstay rates and security concerns. Officials say it aims to survive legal challenges that plagued earlier versions.
Critics, including Oxfam America, condemned the policy as discriminatory and harmful to vulnerable populations seeking refuge. Afghan nationals on Special Immigrant Visas are exempt, but advocates say the move undermines years of resettlement work.
No major disruptions were reported at U.S. airports as the ban took effect.
07:45 AM EDT
Iran trolls US over LA riots
The front page of Iran’s Tehran Times newspaper, June 9, 2025.
The front page of Iran’s Tehran Times newspaper, June 9, 2025.
Tehran Times
Iran has seized on violent protests rocking Los Angeles to mock the United States, ramping up social media taunts and state media headlines.
As federal immigration raids triggered days of unrest and National Guard deployment, Tehran’s outlets amplified scenes of chaos to question American stability and governance. The trolling reflects broader tensions between the two nations, with Iran eager to capitalize on U.S. domestic turmoil.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.
By amplifying scenes of chaos tied to immigration enforcement, Tehran aims to portray the Trump Administration as fractured, authoritarian, and morally compromised at a time of tense nuclear negotiations and long-term strains.
Against this backdrop, Iran is leveraging social media and state media to frame the U.S. as unstable and hypocritical—part of a broader strategy to weaken its global credibility amid deepening diplomatic tensions.
07:26 AM EDT
Around 60 arrested in San Francisco ICE protest turned violent
Roughly 60 people, including minors, were arrested Sunday in San Francisco after a protest outside the Immigration Services building escalated into violence, authorities said.
Hundreds initially gathered to oppose ICE raids and deportations, but the demonstration turned into a standoff with police in riot gear, according to local reports.
Police declared the protest an unlawful assembly after some participants allegedly vandalized property, assaulted individuals, and damaged a patrol car. Two officers were injured, and one was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers later recovered a firearm and detained individuals who refused to disperse. The SFPD stated it supports free speech but “violence — especially against SFPD officers — will never be tolerated.”
An investigation is ongoing.
07:13 AM EDT
Glendale ends ICE contract amid protests and public backlash
The city of Glendale, California, announced Sunday it will end its contract with U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and stop using its police department facility to house federal immigration detainees.
City officials said the decision was made after evaluating legal, operational, and community factors, not politics. The statement stressed that, despite detainees having access to clean facilities, medical care, and legal support, the partnership had become “divisive” and risked damaging public trust.
“The Glendale Police Department does not enforce immigration law,” the city said, stressing its focus on maintaining community confidence.
Glendale’s move follows several days of unrest in Los Angeles, where demonstrators have clashed with police and federal agents over immigration enforcement. The city had hosted ICE detainees since 2007.
06:59 AM EDT
Watch: Motorbikes break through police line
The shocking video below shows the moment two motorbikes try to crash through police lines in Los Angeles. Both riders were detained at the scene.
06:27 AM EDT
Newsom: Trump is a stone cold liar
California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom called U.S. President Donald Trump a “stone cold liar” over the decision to deploy National Guard troops to quell the violence in Los Angeles, as protests against immigration enforcement operations erupted into riots.
The Republican president said he had warned Newsom he would send in the troops if he didn’t think the California governor was taking care of the situation.
Newsom, a Democrat, said he and Trump spoke very late on Friday night for around 20 minutes and had a “decent conversation,” but “this issue never came up,” even though the protests were already underway.
“I kept trying to talk about LA, he wanted to talk about all these other issues. We had a very decent conversation,” Newsom told MSNBC, adding that Trump “never once brought up the National Guard”.
“He’s a stone cold liar. He said he did. Stone. Cold. Liar. Never did,” Newsom said.
“It was a very civil conversation. I’ve always wanted to approach engagement with the president of the United States in a respectful and responsible way.
“But there’s no working with the president. There’s only working for him. And I will never work for Donald Trump.”
Newsom opposed the deployment of National Guard troops by Trump, arguing it is inflammatory and unnecessary, with local and state authorities capable of handling outbreaks of violence and protecting federal officers.
It is extremely rare for presidents to deploy National Guard troops without the express request of or support from the state governor.
05:48 AM EDT
Trump Jr. invokes “Rooftop Koreans”
Donald Trump Jr. called for more “Rooftop Koreans” in response to the rioting in Los Angeles.
It is a reference to the Korean-American business owners who took to the rooftops of their premises during the 1992 LA riots armed with guns to protect their property from vandalism and looting.
“Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!” Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, posted to X along with an image from the original LA riots.
05:13 AM EDT
LACD: Don’t blame us for immigration enforcement
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) distanced itself from the immigration raids at the center of the unrest gripping the city, but said it would intervene to protect federal authorities from any violence.
It highlights the difference in approach at the root of the current unrest, with Californian state and city administrations opting for a liberal and accommodating stance on undocumented migration, versus the federal government’s much tougher stance under the Trump Administration.
LASD made clear in a statement that it “does not enforce civil immigration laws, nor do we ask about an individual’s immigration status when we respond to calls for service.”
“The Sheriff’s Department is not involved in any federal law enforcement operations. When federal authorities come under attack and request assistance, we will support them and provide aid,” LASD said
“However, this does not mean that we are assisting with their immigration actions or operations; rather, our objective is to protect them from any violent attacks. Any assault on federal or local law enforcement is unacceptable.”
It said it recognizes and supports the constitutional right to peaceful protest and assembly.
04:35 AM EDT
DHS: ‘ORDER WILL BE RESTORED’
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent a one-line warning to rioters in Los Angeles, accompanied by images of individuals standing on a damaged and vandalized vehicle and waving Mexican flags.
“ORDER WILL BE RESTORED,” the DHS post on X said.
Images of people waving Mexican flags during the protests and violence have triggered anger among Americans supportive of tougher immigration enforcement, who view it as symbolic of deeper problems.
“Since you love Mexico so much, we are going to happily return you,” wrote Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and Trump supporter, on X.
04:22 AM EDT
Newsom calls Trump “sponsor of these conditions”
California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to separate the violence from the peaceful protesting taking place and accused President Donald Trump of making matters worse in Los Angeles.
Newsom did not want Trump to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles and saw it as an inflammatory move. The Democratic governor argued that state and local police had matters under control.
“These images are unacceptable. These kids on the car, folks that are taking advantage of this—these aren’t peaceful protesters, a lot of these folks,” Newsom told MSNBC, responding to some of the footage emerging.
“A lot of great people out there, doing the right thing. But you get these insurgent groups coming in, sort of these anarchists, that are in there to create real problems. And they’re just playing right into Donald Trump’s hands.
“They need to be called out. They need to be arrested. It is wrong to destroy other people’s property, and it is wrong to create the conditions that only exacerbate this.
“But Donald Trump, at the end of the day, is the sponsor of these conditions.”