President Donald Trump is thanking an appeals court for freezing an order that he return control of National Guard troops to California.

Protests have continued in the Los Angeles area since Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted mass arrests in the area Friday.

California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday in a show of force following scattered clashes between immigration agents and protesters and amid a widening political divide between California and the Trump administration.

Los Angeles has become the epicentre of heated protests and military mobilisation following aggressive immigration raids by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The demonstrations, which began on 6 June,

California Governor Gavin Newsom blasts the federal government's response to anti-immigration raid protests as "purposefully inflammatory".

Tensions are escalating in Los Angeles after protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement gripped the city on Sunday, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement and setting vehicles on fire downtown.

On Saturday, June 14 millions of Americans will be participating in protests under the banner “No Kings.” This weekend’s protests were scheduled weeks ago to coincide with a massive military parade in Washington D.C. June 14 is the 250 th anniversary of the United States Army (and Trump’s birthday).