California Governor Gavin Newsom has formally requested that the administration of US President Donald Trump rescind its "unlawful deployment of troops" in Los Angeles.
Newsom posted a copy of a letter he had sent to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, after National Guard troops were deployed to the country's second largest city to quell unrest following immigration raids on Friday.
"We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved," Newsom, a Democrat, said on X.
In the letter, Newsom said the deployment of the National Guard "risks escalating the situation" as he urged Washington to let Californian state authorities deal with the unrest.
"There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, and to do so in this unlawful manner and for such a lengthy period is a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation."
Trump had said Saturday that federal authorities would "step in and solve the problem" if Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass "can't do their jobs."
On Saturday evening, Newsom accused Trump of creating "a spectacle" by sending in the National Guard instead of leaving state authorities in charge.
Crowds block LA freeway as immigration protests continue
Large crowds have turned out in downtown Los Angeles Sunday for the third consecutive day of protests against immigration raids.
US President Donald Trump has sent in the National Guard to quell the unrest, promising to restore "law and order."
Trump's measures have failed to lower the simmering tensions, however, amid protests that have so far remained largely peaceful.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters faced off with police officers, initially outside a federal building before they moved to a freeway in downtown LA.
Television footage showed crowds of demonstrators in a standoff with police on the 101 freeway.
The Los Angeles Police Department said on X that arrests were being made after bottles, concrete blocks and other objects were thrown at officers, adding that a dispersal order was in effect.
"Demonstrators have walked onto the 101 freeway blocking SB lanes of traffic. All traffic [on] both the NB [Northbound] and SB [Southbound] lanes have been stopped," the LAPD said.
Police warned that anyone "on the Alameda, Los Angeles St, Aliso St, the 101 freeway between Alameda and the 110 freeway are subject to arrest."
Trump ordered troops to Los Angeles to protect 'law and order'
US President Donald Trump said National Guard troops sent to Los Angeles would ensure "very strong law and order," while appearing to leave the door open to deploying soldiers in other cities.
"You have violent people, and we are not going to let them get away with it," he told reporters regarding those protesting raids by immigration agents in California. "I think you're going to see some very strong law and order."
Responding to a question about the potential for invoking the Insurrection Act, Trump said: "We're looking at troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country."
Earlier Sunday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that the protests by what he called "often paid troublemakers" on the "radical left" would not be tolerated.
The president added that masks would no longer be allowed to be worn at protests.
Trump also said that California officials who stand in the way of the deportations could face charges.
