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President Donald Trump issued an order authorizing 2,000 California National Guard troops to be sent to Los Angeles County following two days of violent clashes between protestors and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during nationwide immigration enforcement actions. This move came following intense protests and clashes with agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in communities struggling with federal workplace raids.
On Saturday evening, Trump issued a presidential memorandum authorizing deployment of the National Guard under federal control to assist ICE and other law enforcement agencies in maintaining order during civil unrest, calling such action essential to curb “RIOTS & LOOTERS.” (FT.com +12, Reuter’s +12 and En.wikipedia).
At a time of intensifying protests in Los Angeles and nearby Paramount–bordering Orange County–where coordinated worksite immigration operations led to confrontations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 44 individuals on Friday alone, sparking widespread outrage. Protesters at a Paramount Home Depot reportedly threw rocks and debris, prompting agents to deploy tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs in order to disperse a growing crowd. theguardian.com +3
Violent Flashpoints and Arrests
At Friday night’s protests across Los Angeles, demonstrators targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles outside detention centers while chanting “Free them all!” Law enforcement used less-lethal munitions to restore order after some participants attacked Border Patrol units with concrete or other projectiles; at least two injuries were reported (axios.com; APNews.com and Latimes.com).
Saturday saw further unrest in Paramount, with protesters using shopping carts to block streets and crowd-control measures being deployed by authorities; one vehicle caught fire before fire department extinguishers put out the flames.
Elpais.com +3, Wikipedia en Wikipedia, FT.com all offer additional coverage: elpais,wikipedia and FT have articles detailing these developments;
California Governor Gavin Newsom–who would normally oversee the Guard under state jurisdiction–recently condemned their deployment as being intentionally provocative and cautioned that it risked further escalating tensions in already tense communities. He advised protesters to express their dissent peacefully rather than using violence as an avenue for expression. AAPNews.com +15
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt of the Trump administration described the unrest as violent mobs attacking federal agents conducting lawful operations, necessitating deployment of National Guard soldiers to strengthen law enforcement and ensure public safety during what she described as basic deportation operations despite “violent insurgency.”
[Ft.com; KCRA and ABCNewsGO all provide coverage]….
Legal and Historical Perspective
The federal takeover of the National Guard does not currently invoke the Insurrection Act; rather, the Guard has been moved from Insurrection status to Title 10 federal status. Legal experts point out that while this allows troop deployment without governor approval, its use remains controversial; such deployment occurred during Selma marches in 1965 but hasn’t happened recently.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton are on high alert should the situation worsen further, according to multiple media outlets such as Latimes, Reuter’s, Wikipedia etc.
Political Flashpoint This deployment highlights Washington’s ideological split with sanctuary cities like Los Angeles. President Trump’s hardline immigration policy–aiming for daily deportations–has ignited opposition within sanctuary jurisdictions such as Los Angeles. Trump has threatened withholding federal funding in response to Californian sanctuary jurisdictions demonstrating resistance; therefore abcnews.go.com, FT.com and Axios have reported on it extensively.
Local officials such as Mayor Karen Bass have strongly denounced Trump’s military raids and involvement, calling the tactics used by them “terror”. Additionally, California lawmakers are exploring legal challenges against his federal seizure of their State Guard unit (Bloom.de, the Guardian etc). For more information visit: en.wikipedia.org; theguardian.com and bloom.de
As the National Guard establishes a presence in the region, one of the primary questions surrounding their involvement will be whether their presence will reduce disorder or further inflame public resentment. Legal scholars are closely following federal authority at work while immigrant communities and advocacy groups mobilize both legally and politically against its presence.
In the coming days, deployment could prove pivotal: whether or not deployment leads to calm or wider unrest will depend on law enforcement tactics and responses from civic actors. With active military forces on standby and widespread disapproval for immigration enforcement tactics proposed by President Trump’s administration, Los Angeles could become an integral component in his immigration enforcement plan.
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