Los Angeles experienced a significant federal deployment as approximately 300 National Guard troops arrived early Sunday, responding to orders from President Donald Trump. This marked a notable occurrence, being the first instance in decades where a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor. It reflects a major escalation in the federal government’s approach towards individuals opposing the ongoing deportation efforts by the administration.
Troops were seen stationed outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, outfitted in tactical gear and armed with long guns in front of armored vehicles. The situation remained mostly peaceful, without major protests, following two days of clashes between immigration authorities and demonstrators.
A small group of protesters, including Rep. Maxine Waters, gathered near the facility, where remnants of previous confrontations, including tear gas canisters, littered the streets, causing discomfort and coughing fits among some attendees. The protests, which began in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, had spread to nearby areas such as Paramount and Compton, with the region’s immigrant communities expressing their dissent against federal actions.
The arrival of the National Guard came after federal agents confronted demonstrators attempting to block Border Patrol vehicles in Paramount. These confrontations turned violent as agents deployed riot gear and utilized tear gas, flash-bang explosives, and pepper balls in response to protesters hurling rocks and chunks of cement. The escalation followed a week in which the number of immigrant arrests in Los Angeles had surpassed 100, intensifying tensions in the community.
Prominent figures, including union leaders, were arrested during the protests, which have been viewed as a direct response to a series of federal sweeps targeting undocumented immigrants. The National Guard’s deployment faced opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who characterized Trump’s actions as an overreaction intended to create a spectacle of force.
Historically, the last time a president activated the National Guard without a state’s governor’s consent was in 1965, during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s intervention to protect a civil rights march in Alabama. This recent federal intervention raises eyebrows about the current administration’s tactics to enforce immigration policies amid widespread protests.
Governor Newsom expressed his concerns directly to President Trump in a 40-minute phone call, emphasizing his disapproval of the decision while both leaders’ subsequent communications were not disclosed. Confusion about the timing of the National Guard’s arrival was evident when Trump congratulated the troops on a successful deployment shortly before midnight, only for Mayor Karen Bass to announce an hour later that the troops had not yet reached the city.
In a statement on the situation, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized California politicians and protesters for allegedly defending individuals whom she labeled as “heinous illegal alien criminals,” urging gratitude towards ICE officers who aim to enhance community safety. This assertion reflects the Trump administration’s narrative that federal actions are justified in the name of public safety and law enforcement.
The troops deployed included members of the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, indicating a considerable presence meant to assert federal authority amid rising unrest. Furthermore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning of potential deployment of active-duty Marines should violence persist in the area, exemplifying the administration’s willingness to escalate the situation further.
Responses to the deployment varied widely, with critics like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders arguing that it suggests a movement towards authoritarianism by President Trump, emphasizing the dangerous precedent of usurping Congressional powers. Conversely, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican ally of Trump, supported the president’s actions, attributing a failure of leadership to Governor Newsom and arguing that federal intervention was necessary.
As Los Angeles grapples with its current tensions, the deployment of National Guard troops signifies an ongoing struggle regarding immigration policies and how they intersect with local governance and civil rights.
image source from：https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/national-guard-troops-arrive-in-los-angeles-to-quell-protests-on-orders-from-trump
