Protests in Los Angeles escalated into the third day in a row as community tensions flared after a wave of federal immigration arrests. In response to the devastation, California Governor Gavin Newsom leveled some of his most forceful criticism in President Donald Trump’s direction. He has previously condemned these federal actions as an egregious abuse of power. Last week, protests erupted after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested more than 100 people throughout the city. This historical crackdown on the alleged immigration violations infuriated the Tucson community.
In 2015 along these same streets, President Trump quickly dispatched 300 National Guard troops to restore order. Their first stop was the federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles. The National Guard is a state-based military reserve force. As cities burn, their national guard divisions have been quickly activated to restore social order amid this new wave of civil unrest.
Trump’s Militarization of California
Adding to these concerns, Trump’s recent decision for deploying the National Guard raises alarm bells about the militarization of California’s streets and communities. Governor Newsom went even further in criticizing the deployment. He claimed instead that there was no “unmet need” for this type of action and that he hadn’t asked for it.
“Donald Trump’s attempts to militarize California are an alarming abuse of power,” – Gavin Newsom
Governor Newsom further expressed his discontent, stating, “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed.”
The governor’s statement marks a new front in the resistance against federal overreach in immigration enforcement, as well as infringements on civil rights. Protests escalated nationwide as protesters hit the streets. On their behalf, they fervently opposed the Trump administration and condemned its cruel and discriminatory immigration policies.
The Insurrection Act Debate
At a press conference, members of the media peppered President Trump with questions about the Insurrection Act. This statute provides a president with broad powers to deploy armed military forces to enforce laws or suppress civil disorder. Trump specifically suggested that he would make up his mind based on whether or not an insurrection was in progress.
“It depends on whether or not there’s an insurrection,” – Donald Trump
Legal scholars and political commentators are still arguing about this declaration. They’re zooming in on the definitions of insurrection and civil disorder as well as what a declaration of this kind would really mean. Critics warning about the misuse of military forces in domestic crises. They are concerned that this type of approach may increase violence and further divide communities.
Protests Against Federal Immigration Policies
The protests were primarily sparked by the violent tactics used by ICE agents. Like last week, when they began arresting over 100 immigrants this week and mobilized grassroots concern across the state. Many community members view these arrests as part of a broader crackdown on immigrant rights and have mobilized to demonstrate their opposition to Trump’s policies.
Many have been arrested on federal obstruction charges at these protests – a sign of how much more dangerous the situation has become. As protesters gather for a large demonstration in downtown Los Angeles, their messages reflect deep-seated frustrations towards federal immigration enforcement tactics.
“But you have violent people, and we’re not going to let them get away with it … we’re going to have troops everywhere,” – Donald Trump
Both state and federal officials face mounting pressure from the public. Fulfilling the most basic commitments of addressing human rights and public safety concerns, people are calling for a concrete solution.
