LA Riots Erupt Over Trump Immigration Raids as Newsom and Bass Face GOP Backlash

Los Angeles is in flames—both literally and figuratively—as riots erupt over the Trump administration's aggressive immigration raids across Southern California. Over the weekend, chaos gripped the streets of LA, with over 1,000 rioters reportedly attacking ICE officers, slashing tires, and defacing federal property. The Department of Homeland Security has highlighted a staggering 413% increase in assaults on ICE agents, with even their family members being targeted through doxxing.

California Republicans are pointing fingers squarely at Democratic leaders, Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, for fanning the flames of unrest. Rep. Darrell Issa didn’t mince words, accusing both of having a habit of letting LA 'burn' while prioritizing political agendas over public safety. Other GOP voices, including Rep. Ken Calvert and actor James Woods, have echoed this sentiment, slamming Newsom and Bass for siding with what they call 'illegal alien insurrectionists' over law-abiding citizens.

Meanwhile, Newsom and Bass have doubled down, decrying the federal sweeps as 'reckless' and 'cruel.' Bass expressed outrage over tactics she claims 'sow terror' in immigrant communities, while Newsom’s office accused the Trump administration of tearing families apart with indiscriminate detentions. Their defiance has only intensified the political firestorm, with federal officials like White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller asserting that federal law will prevail, regardless of local resistance.

The violence has escalated to the point of necessitating federal intervention. President Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen to Paramount, CA, to restore order, while issuing a stern warning to local leaders via social media: if they can’t handle the 'riots and looters,' the federal government will. ICE acting Director Todd Lyons and FBI Director Kash Patel have also promised accountability for those attacking officers, with Patel bluntly stating, 'If you assault a law enforcement officer, you’re going to jail—period.'

Beyond the street battles, this clash exposes a deeper rift between state and federal authority. Newsom’s flirtation with withholding federal taxes in retaliation for funding cuts has drawn sharp rebukes from Republicans like Rep. Tom McClintock, who warned against a dangerous precedent of nullification. As LA burns, the question remains: will this be a turning point in the fight over immigration policy, or just another chapter in California’s ongoing defiance?