President Donald Trump signed a memorandum over the weekend to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, citing the need to protect federal immigration officials and law enforcement amid growing protests over recent immigration raids.
The deployment comes as concentrated protests erupted across L.A. County following a large-scale operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A federal law enforcement official reported that multiple officers sustained injuries during confrontations with protesters.
In response to these developments, President Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to authorize the National Guard’s presence in Los Angeles.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his opposition to the National Guard’s deployment, asserting that it violates state sovereignty.
Newsom’s administration announced on Monday that it filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the National Guard’s presence in the city.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell reported that 39 individuals were arrested over the weekend amid the protests.
Additionally, approximately 700 Marines have been placed on high alert for potential deployment to Los Angeles, as indicated by three U.S. officials.
The memorandum issued by President Trump specifies that at least 2,000 National Guard troops would be sent to Los Angeles to assist in protecting ICE officials and other federal employees.
While the National Guard troops have not been given authority to arrest civilians, their primary role is to safeguard federal functions amidst ongoing unrest.
The president’s memorandum stated, “In light of these incidents and credible threats of continued violence, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby call into federal service members and units of the National Guard… to temporarily protect ICE and other United States government personnel.
Furthermore, the National Guard is tasked with protecting federal property at locations where protests are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations.
According to the memorandum, the National Guard personnel will be deployed for a period of 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.
A Defense Department official stated that the majority of the troops being deployed are members of the California National Guard.
The memorandum also allows the Secretary of Defense to employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to support the protection of federal functions and property as determined appropriate.
President Trump’s invocation of Title 10 authority under federal law grants him the power to call into federal service units of the National Guard for various circumstances including repelling invasion or suppressing rebellion.
Legal experts have suggested that the president likely possesses the authority to call upon the National Guard for supportive roles, as discussed in the memo.
Jessica Levinson, a law professor, explained that Title 10 permits the president to call for backup for ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies.
Amidst this situation, President Trump took to social media criticizing Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their perceived inadequacies in managing the unrest.
He stated, “Governor Gavin Newscum and ‘Mayor’ Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots.”
In response, Newsom pointed out that local law enforcement did not require additional help and expressed concerns over the president’s decision to send troops, which he claimed was intended to create chaos.
Newsom summarized, “1) Local law enforcement didn’t need help. 2) Trump sent troops anyway — to manufacture chaos and violence. 3) Trump succeeded. 4) Now things are destabilized and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump’s mess.”
Bass has also openly criticized the immigration raids conducted under the Trump administration.
She urged Angelenos to refrain from engaging in violence, cautioning that such actions would only serve to satisfy the administration’s agenda.
The debate over President Trump’s authority in deploying the National Guard centers around Title 10, which allows federalization under circumstances of domestic unrest or law enforcement needs.
Governor Newsom contended that Trump acted illegally in federalizing the National Guard without state consent.
Experts like Levinson clarified that while Title 10 allows for call-ups of the National Guard in supportive roles, it does not grant extensive law enforcement powers.
They distinguished this situation from a potential invocation of the Insurrection Act, which would provide far greater authority to federal troops in domestic law enforcement.
The Insurrection Act, in contrast to Title 10, allows military deployment to assist civilian law enforcement during crises or to suppress insurrections, sometimes over a state’s objections.
Legally, the Insurrection Act is a much more authoritative tool that raises significant concerns about civil liberties and potential government overreach.
Historically, presidents like George H.W. Bush have deployed National Guard troops under the Insurrection Act at the request of state officials, such as during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
However, Trump’s current deployment under Title 10 has not received state approval, complicating matters further.
While the deployment of the National Guard often falls to governors, there are cases where presidents have stepped in.
For instance, during significant civil actions or natural disasters, governors typically handle the request for National Guard assistance, as was the case in Minnesota with the George Floyd protests in 2020.
Concerns regarding Trump’s deployment of the National Guard encompass the potential for rising tensions and violence in Los Angeles, especially with federal troops now in the city.
Critics warn that the presence of military personnel could escalate rather than alleviate existing issues.
Legal experts also note that deploying the National Guard domestically may have broader implications for military-civilian relations and could affect troop morale.
As the situation unfolds, the eyes of many will be on Los Angeles to see how state officials and the federal government navigate this complex and charged environment.
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