Military personnel from the National Guard dispatched in Los Angeles during demonstrations spurred by immigration enforcement operations
LIVING IN THE FIRE:
California's Battlefield:
Los Angeles is heating up. President Trump, in a sudden move, deployed the California National Guard on June 8 after three days of mass demonstrations over immigration raids, a key component of his strong border policy.
Around a dozen National Guard members were observed early on June 8 at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, which was a hub for detainees apprehended during the immigration raids carried out on June 6. Hordes of protesters clashed in the area on June 7, and another rally was scheduled for the afternoon near Los Angeles City Hall.
The controversial Trump administration's decision sparked swift criticism, with California Governor Gavin Newsom accusing Trump of wanting to create a spectacle. He claims that local law enforcement has more than enough resources to handle the situation.
On Trump’s truth social platform, he wrote, "Radical Left protests led by troublemakers will NOT be tolerated."
Video footage captured military-style vehicles and riot shields at the federal building, where approximately "1,000 rioters" had protested on June 6, according to the Department of Homeland Security. However, Reuters could not verify that account.
The demonstrations pitted Democrat-run Los Angeles, with a significant Hispanic and foreign-born population, against the Republican White House, with its hardline immigration policy. Los Angeles has become a battleground in Trump's stalwart drive to deport record numbers of people living in the country illegally and secure the US-Mexico border.
Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, warned that the Pentagon was prepared to mobilize active-duty troops if violence persisted, while pointing out that the Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton were “on high alert.”
Questioning the president's decision, Democratic Congresswoman Nanette Barragan, whose district includes Paramount, said local law enforcement has the resources to handle the situation, claiming that Trump was escalating tensions and inciting anger over immigration.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the National Guard's primary role would be to ensure safety around buildings, protect people participating in peaceful protests, and law enforcement personnel. She also clarified that the troops would not engage in regular law enforcement activities.
ICE operations in Los Angeles on June 6 led to the apprehension of at least 44 individuals on alleged immigration violations. The deployment of National Guard troops and the subsequent protests have raised questions about Trump's legal authority to deploy troops without Governor Newsom's consent.
[1] The president's authority to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles is based on 10 U.S.C. § 12406, a provision within Title 10 of the U.S. Code that allows the president to call National Guard units into federal service in certain situations, including when there is a "rebellion or danger of a rebellion" against the U.S. government.
[2] Typically, orders for deploying National Guard troops are issued through the governors of the states. However, this provision has not been used as a standalone authority in the past and is usually accompanied by other legal frameworks like the Insurrection Act.
[3] The Insurrection Act empowers a president to deploy the US military to enforce the law and suppress events like civil disorder, as requested by the governor.
[4] The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
[5] Using 10 U.S.C. § 12406 without state consent and as the sole basis for deployment could face legal scrutiny if challenged in court.
In the midst of the tense politics, California Governor Gavin Newsom questioned the legality of President Trump deploying National Guard troops in Los Angeles without his consent, citing the potential need for court scrutiny. Meanwhile, general-news sources discussed the president's authority to deploy National Guard troops based on 10 U.S.C. § 12406, a provision that allows for such action in cases of "rebellion or danger of a rebellion," but the provision's use without state consent may face legal challenges.
