Unprecedented chaos in America: Trump immediately sent the army to the protesters PHOTO/VIDEO

The move marks a major escalation of the conflict in Trump's attempt to crack down on illegal immigration, the LA Times reported.

The Guard has previously been deployed in Los Angeles during widespread civil unrest, including protests in 2020 following the killing of African-American George Floyd.

The White House announced Saturday that Trump is deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles to "address the lawlessness" that has spread in California, the AP reported.

Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the move, saying on Platform X that Trump's move was "deliberately inflammatory and will only lead to increased tensions."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to deploy the military to Los Angeles, including the Marines, if the violence continued.

Police wearing helmets and riot gear clashed with protesters Friday night after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested at least 44 people for immigration violations.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the agency is reviewing evidence from the protests and is cooperating with the US attorney's office.

"The right to assemble and protest does not include a license to attack law enforcement officers, nor to disrupt and obstruct our lawful immigration operations," Bongiono said.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said it made no arrests in connection with the demonstration, and was deployed to prevent unrest after protesters, following the migrant raids, gathered outside a nearby jail where some of the detainees were allegedly held and wrote anti-ICE slogans on the walls of the federal courthouse.