Stickin' it to 'Em: Trump's contentious National Guard Deployment in LA Unpacked
Legislation Governing Trump's Military Deployment in the United States
By Leah Nowak, NYC
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Donald Trump's love for stirring the pot never seems to wane. This time, he's sending thousands of troops to Los Angeles in the name of quelling immigration protests—against the governor's wishes. And his justification? A controversial federal law provision that's got everyone talking.
Remember the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020? Old Donnie hated 'em, and now it seems like he's gotten his wished-for military to maintain order within the USA. On a Saturday evening, the president deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to LA to shut down protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. By Tuesday, the troops count had doubled, with another 2,000 joining the fray, followed by 700 elite soliders.
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But California Governor Gavin Newsom isn't having it. Trump's actions, according to Newsom, are downright illegal. So much so that Newsom filed a lawsuit against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming their actions violate federal law and the state's sovereignty.
Fightin' the "Insurrection Act"?
The idea of deploying federal troops within the US for police-related purposes may seem like a no-no, but there's always an exception to the rule. If the situation escalates to a full-blown uprising against the government, the so-called "Insurrection Act" could come into play. This act allows the president to use the military to quell riots, rebellions, or insurrections. But Trump hasn't explicitly invoked this act just yet. Instead, he's citing 10 U.S.C. 12406, which allows the president to mobilize the National Guard for certain purposes, such as in case of invasion or when civilian authorities can't maintain order.
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So, what can the National Guard do exactly? Unlike the "Insurrection Act," 10 U.S.C. 12406 doesn't empower the Guard to jump straight into civilian law enforcement. The troops can only protect other forces, such as ICE, during their enforcement actions. It's also worth noting that Trump hasn't ruled out using the "Insurrection Act" in the future.
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Governor Newsom maintains that there's no need for additional support, despite the National Guard presence. In extraordinary circumstances like war or national disasters, the president can deploy the National Guard without the governor's approval. But this is one rare case, with the last such instance occurring back in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama without the governor's approval.
LA Protests: Just the Beginning?
Trump praised his deployment to LA as a decision that prevented the city from being "totally torched." But whether protests against ICE truly constitute rebellion and a threat to law enforcement remains to be seen. A temporary restraining order filed by Newsom on Tuesday to halt the action was unsuccessful. Further lawsuits may follow from protesters, who argue their individual rights such as freedom of speech and assembly are at stake.
Protests against Trump's immigration policies have already popped up in other cities like New York, Seattle, and Washington D.C. This could signal the potential mobilization of the National Guard in other places around the nation. Trump's order isn't exclusive to LA—it authorizes troops to protect ICE at all locations where protests are taking place or where they're likely to occur.
Source: ntv.de
- LA Protests
- Donald Trump
- National Guard
- Immigration Policies
- California
The Commission, in the context of the ongoing political discourse and general-news events surrounding the LA Protests, has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, such as those potentially encountered during military interventions or law enforcement activities. The politics surrounding Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard, initially in Los Angeles and subsequently across various cities, have been questioned by critics over allegations of violation of constitutional rights and state sovereignty, reminiscent of the crime-and-justice debates during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.
