Military deployment underway; Democratic Representative Nanette Barragán perceives it as a sign of authoritarian rule.
Updated June 10, 2025 at 09:26 AM CDT
California Democrats are giving it to the federal government over the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and National Guard troops within their communities. They view these federal actions as a politically driven stunt and an unneeded flare-up of emotions.
President Trump dropped 2,000 National Guard soldiers into Los Angeles County despite opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who slammed the president for fabricating a crisis to justify harsher restrictions and control over law enforcement matters. Newsom also urged calm from the residents.
Legal and military experts found the decision to be a power abuse and unprecedented.
NPR reached out to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, and Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. However, neither of them responded. McLaughlin was not available on June 9, but she'll speak on Morning Edition later in the week.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, who represents parts of Los Angeles, reported that her constituents are living in terror and that immigration enforcement in their midst is intensifying tensions instead of keeping people safe.
During an interview with Morning Edition, Barragán spoke to NPR's A Martinez about the protests, the federal response, and why she thinks President Trump is using immigration as a smokescreen.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Interview Highlights
A Martinez: What have you heard from your constituents about how these protests were managed and how things unfolded?
Rep. Nanette Barragán: We've been hearing that there's a lot of fear in the community, whether they're next, whether ICE is coming for them. This is what we're getting numerous calls about. We heard reports yesterday in San Pedro of National Guard sightings. But honestly, folks are irritated about ICE showing up in our communities. They think it's completely unnecessary that the National Guard is there. I concur with the governor that this is there to generate hostilities and make things worse. And that's exactly what has happened.
I would also like to mention that, I agree that today, actually there are three things happening in Los Angeles. We need people to remain pacifist. Those causing damage to the city and assaulting officers are not welcome. We continue to condemn any aggression. So, today when they go out, please keep that in mind. This is a movement against immigration enforcement. In particular, it's about protesting mass deportations and what they're doing. There's no targeted effort here to find criminals. As they said we're going to do. They're sweeping up friends and neighbors of people who are just searching for jobs at these worksites outside of Home Depot.
Martinez: President Trump's statement indicates that National Guard troops will solely assume a supporting role by safeguarding ICE officers, rather than taking on law enforcement tasks. In situations when tensions are high, why wouldn't local police welcome such reinforcements?
Barragán: Local law enforcement can ensure that the public is safe and protect federal personnel. That's the whole point. There's no need for the National Guard.
Actually, they did that in Paramount when they came to Paramount on Saturday morning. It was the sheriffs who got things under control, not the National Guard. In downtown LA that night, it was the LAPD who got things under control, it was not the National Guard. You bring up the National Guard, you stir up tensions. People come out, and this is what you're starting to see happening.
Martinez: The National Guard has only been deployed to protect federal buildings, so they wouldn't have been in Paramount. So, what would be the concern regarding just keeping their duties confined to those tasks?
Barragán: People feel that it's unnecessary. They feel this is the administration taking over. And it is. This is the act of a dictator who imposes the National Guard against the governor's will and against all elected officials' will. The presence of the National Guard in and of itself sends the message, "We're here to take control." This is to empower the president to show off his power. So people have seen that. We've seen reports of people attacking and acting out against the National Guard. It's for that reason. Now, again, any aggression is completely unacceptable, but they're not needed. So, it's only causing more ruckus. And that's the whole point. People want ICE and they want the National Guard out of our communities. There is a way to do enforcement. It's targeted enforcement. It's been done countless times and hasn't led to this. This is really a distraction.
Martinez: You’ve said that you were informed that California should expect 30 days of ICE enforcement. Are you convinced that we might see an additional 27 days of what we've seen over the past three days?
Barragán: From what federal officials have stated, it will continue. And I can see why. Since Trump's policies are failing, the economy is diving, he's about to take health care from millions of Americans, prices are going up. This is a way to divert attention.
In essence, California Democrats are questioning the federal government's actions as politically motivated and unnecessarily volatile, claiming that the presence of ICE agents and National Guard soldiers undermines state authority and inflames emotions within immigrant communities without a genuine need for federal intervention.
- The community in California is living in fear due to the intensified immigration enforcement, according to Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, who represents parts of Los Angeles.
- Barragán also stated that the deployment of ICE agents and National Guard troops within their communities is viewed as a politically driven move by California Democrats, intended to generate hostilities and make things worse.
- The political implications of this federal action are making waves in both local and general news, with policy and legislation experts analyzing the potential impact on war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice issues in the state.
- As the situation unfolds, the economy and policy-and-legislation surrounding immigration reform may face significant changes, especially considering the political tension between California Democrats and President Trump.
