In the days before protests erupted in Los Angeles, the Trump administration stepped up its efforts to detain migrants — taking into custody those who arrived for routine check-ins while also conducting workplace raids that have sent waves of fear across Southern California and beyond.

The "No Kings" protests have taken aim at President Donald Trump's policies, particularly his decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles.

The president claimed, without giving evidence, that the protesters were “paid” agitators, that the Los Angeles police asked for the National Guard, and that swaths of the city were under gang control.

Downtown Boise filled with protesters on Saturday afternoon as thousands rallied against President Donald Trump, his administration and its immigration policies. Demonstrators waved American flags, chanted and cheered as speakers criticized the administration for policies they said are harming the country and leading the country towards authoritarianism.

From Southern California to Washington, D.C., and all points between, large crowds began to gather for the planned "No Kings" rally against the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement efforts on Saturday,

They are trying to strike a careful balance on issues where Republicans have held a political advantage in recent years.

No Kings” protests, including several in Michigan cities, are scheduled across the country Saturday to coincide with Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump’s deployment of military troops to California is forcing Democrats back onto politically perilous turf, as they look for ways to condemn Trump’s actions without being drawn into a broad debate over immigration or tying themselves to the chaotic scenes emerging from Los Angeles.

Americans are divided over President Donald Trump's decision to activate the military to respond to protests against his crackdown on migrants, with about half supportive of the move, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Thursday.

Los Angeles is one of hundreds of places across the U.S. seeing massive protests against the Trump administration, although L.A. has already seen a week of demonstrations against the immigration policies of President Trump.