California governor asserts Trump's deployment of National Guard in LA is illegitimate
In the Heart of Chaos: LA Stands Against Immigration Enforcement
Los Angeles hit the streets loud and clear on Sunday, as California National Guard troops joined the fray. The apparent response to continuous protests over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, this deployment was declared "unlawful" by the state's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom.
The dust settled after a day of arrests, with over 39 taken into custody in two days. National Guard troops patrolled federal buildings, a scene of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators voicing their discontent over federal immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Authorities labeled several rallies as "unlawful assemblies", blaming some protesters for throwing rocks, bottles, and other objects at police. Intriguingly, self-driving cars from Alphabet's Waymo were set ablaze in the downtown district during the evening.
The city's streets were a canvas for the passionate shouts of protesters who jeered at the police, with some even hurling objects in their direction. One group managed to block the 101 Freeway, a significant traffic artery. Various groups, many bearing Mexican flags and anti-immigration signs, spread across the city, with one gathering at City Hall for an organized rally by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Trump administration to cease the petition to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County, labeling it unlawful. He even planned to sue the administration, accusing Trump of attempting to fabricate a crisis and violating California's state sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump shared his support for Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who described the protests as spiraling out of control.
The discord between the two leaders escalated, with Newsom portraying Trump as a dictator and Trump hailing McDonnell for taking control. Yet, the White House argued that the situation spoke for itself with their statement, "Everyone saw the chaos, violence, and lawlessness."
The clash outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles saw about a dozen National Guard, alongside Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushing back protesters. As per reports, around 300 members of the California National Guard were deployed to three Los Angeles locations, tasked to protect federal personnel and property.
The situation urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to warn that the Pentagon was ready to mobilize active troops if the violent activities persist. Approximately 500 Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton were placed on "high alert," ready to deploy if ordered. However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned both the Trump administration and the violent protesters, pleading for tranquility.
An immigration advocate, Vanessa Cárdenas, accused the Trump administration of exploiting the situation, setting the stage for confrontations around immigration. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that the National Guard would ensure safety for those engaged in peaceful protests and law enforcement.
Ironically, Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people living in the country illegally, aiming to lock down the US-Mexico border. With a significant portion of the Democratic-run Los Angeles population being Hispanic and foreign-born, these seemingly extreme measures have sparked legal battles.
The trust between Mexico and the United States, brewing under President Sheinbaum's leadership, seemed to waver as the US government faced criticism over immigration raids and the National Guard deployment. Sheinbaum pleaded that the immigration issue would be addressed through dialogue and comprehensive reform, rather than violence.
A Question of Authority:
Though President Trump justified the deployment of the National Guard under provisions of Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the situation is unique. Trump's actions have bypassed the typical request from a state governor, which is mostly essential for such deployments.
In practice, presidents typically cite laws like 10 U.S.C. § 12406 or the Insurrection Act to justify troop deployments, yet these laws require specific circumstances. The Insurrection Act, for instance, allows for deployment without state consent in certain cases, but it wasn't explicitly invoked in this scenario.
Governor Newsom's upcoming lawsuit against the Trump Administration could provide clarity on this contentious matter, highlighting tensions between federal authority and state sovereignty.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between the Trump administration and the state government of California, particularly over immigration policies, has escalated to the point where politics and general news channels are thoroughly covering the clashes.
- The crime-and-justice system is under strain in Los Angeles due to the unrest caused by the Trump administration's decision to deploy National Guard troops without the usual agreement from the state governor, leading to general disagreements over federal authority and state sovereignty.
