Noem Warns Trump Admin Won’t Allow 2020 Repeat as National Guard Responds to LA Immigration Riots

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles in response to a wave of violent riots that erupted during immigration protests over the weekend. The move was described by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as an effort to "keep peace" and prevent a repeat of the 2020 unrest that gripped other American cities.

Appearing on a Sunday morning talk show, Noem stressed that the president’s “top priority” is ensuring the safety of both law enforcement officers and the broader community. "President Trump is putting the safety of the communities being impacted by these riots and by these protests that have turned violent, and he’s putting the safety of our law enforcement officers first," said Noem. She emphasized the administration’s determination not to allow violence to spiral out of control, referencing past instances where other states saw widespread destruction.

The current wave of protests was sparked by recent federal immigration raids in the Los Angeles area. Officials noted that some of those apprehended have criminal records including assault and drug offenses, fueling anger among activists and sparking off confrontations with police. Clashes intensified late Saturday, prompting calls for additional security measures to restore order in the city’s most volatile neighborhoods.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California responded to the unrest by deploying the California Highway Patrol to patrol Los Angeles highways, maintaining that their mandate does not extend to assisting with federal immigration enforcement. Newsom criticized the Trump administration’s decision to send in the National Guard, claiming the move was more about creating a “spectacle” than addressing a gap in local law enforcement staffing.

Kristi Noem, however, defended the president’s decisive action, arguing that waiting for state officials was not an option given rising tensions. “Governor Newsom makes bad decisions,” Noem stated, asserting that the federal government “wasn’t going to wait for him to get some sanity.” She reiterated that Trump was determined to avoid what she characterized as mistakes made during the 2020 riots, particularly referencing the delayed response of Minnesota’s then-Governor Tim Walz.

Noem drew a direct comparison to the unrest in Minneapolis four years ago, saying, “Gov. Tim Walz made very bad decisions… letting his city burn for days on end,” before finally calling in the National Guard. Noem suggested that the lesson from Minnesota influenced the administration’s swift deployment in Los Angeles, vowing that a similar scenario would not be allowed under Trump’s watch.

The troops now arriving in Los Angeles are described as being meticulously trained in crowd control and mass protest situations. According to Noem, the National Guard will focus on providing security around key buildings and protecting both peaceful demonstrators and police forces. While declining to reveal specific deployment sites or tactical details, she stressed their presence is centered on maintaining order and protecting constitutional rights. “They’re there at the direction of the president in order to keep peace and allow people to be able to protest but also to keep law and order. That is incredibly important to the president,” said Noem.

As tensions remain high, federal authorities have also warned that further assaults on police officers and destruction of property could lead to swift prosecution, with the FBI pledging to investigate those involved in attacks on law enforcement personnel. City officials and community leaders continue to urge calm, while the National Guard’s arrival marks a new phase in the attempt to restore stability to Los Angeles amid ongoing national disputes over immigration policy.