4) Prioritize Immigration Enforcement
5) Send more troops to Military Bases in Los Angeles
In a speech last week at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump doubled down on his promise to deport a staggering 11 million illegal immigrants. He promised to help bring peace to the city that has been overrun with protests and rioting.
As a matter of policy, Trump touted the fact that his administration would arrest 3,000 migrants per day. He stressed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be in charge of these initiatives. This proposal exemplifies Trump’s decades long desire to secure the U.S. southern border, one of his main platform points from his original campaign for president. He highlighted his ambition to “liberate Los Angeles.” He promised that troops would occupy the city until he personally witnessed order being restored.
Military Presence in Los Angeles
Screengrab via Trump’s announcement received a lot of attention yesterday thanks in part to his pledge to send federal troops to Los Angeles. He spoke to troops at Fort Bragg, admonishing the virtues of upholding order in the city. He promised them that their martial stay would continue until peace was definitively established.
“If there’s peace, we get out. If there’s even a chance of no peace, we stay there.” – President Donald Trump
The deployment aligns with Trump’s broader strategy to combat what he described as a “full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty.” His comments opened up a maelstrom of outrage—all for good reason. On his trip to California, California Governor Gavin Newsom barked back at Trump, charging the president with putting a “military dragnet” over the state.
At the height of the increasing tensions, Trump’s administration conducted dozens of mass arrests of immigrant Angelenos. This crackdown has sparked unprecedented protests, as local residents rise up against the city’s militarized and racially charged enforcement practices.
Response from Local Leaders
teacher and California’s governor Gavin Newsom recently criticized Trump’s military strategy on climate change. Burns contends that the president thrives in an atmosphere of discord and disorder. He argued that far from reducing violence, Trump’s approach just heightens the conflict and weakens state and local leadership.
“Trump is not opposed to lawlessness and violence as long as it serves him. What more evidence do we need than January 6?” – Governor Gavin Newsom
His remarks certainly represent the sort of concern we’re hearing across the country about the unintended consequences of federal micromanagement in local transportation policy. He went on to say that what Trump is doing is an attack on democracy itself, which speaks to concerns about civil liberties.
“Democracy is under assault before our eyes.” – Governor Gavin Newsom
Both the Los Angeles Mayor and police department were quick to condemn the unrest. In response, they released an unequivocal statement condemning curfews and police violence.
“Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted.” – Los Angeles Mayor or Police Department (unattributed)
Immigration Enforcement Goals
Under Trump, the administration has issued radical targets for increased immigration enforcement, including unprecedented targets for arrests. This goal is consistent with Trump’s first term campaign pledges and remains a crowd-pleaser with his MAGA base.
At the same time, the White House has been sending directives to ICE, signaling that they should redouble their efforts by arresting and detaining more undocumented migrants. This latest move has raised alarm bells among immigrant rights advocates. They insist that these policies perpetuate a climate of fear and hostility towards marginalized communities.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott supported Trump’s efforts every step of the way. He announced that the Texas National Guard would deploy every resource at his disposal to restore order.
“Texas [National] Guard will use every tool and strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.” – Governor Greg Abbott
Tensions are rising in Los Angeles as a result of these recent actions. These changes have huge implications not just for local communities, but for national politics as well. The protests against Trump’s policies may shape the narrative leading up to the upcoming elections, as both sides prepare for a contentious political landscape.
