Trump intensifies the situation by activating the National Guard
In the heart of Southern California, the city of Los Angeles experienced a weekend of upheaval as demonstrators took to the streets in protest against the detainment of immigrants. On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to Los Angeles, following days of determined and, at times, seemingly spontaneous resistance to arrests by immigration authorities. Tear gas was used by police against protesters outside a federal government complex in the city center, resulting in over 60 arrests, including minors.
According to CNN, National Guard units were also deployed against protesters in the Westwood neighborhood and Paramount, a suburb with a high Latino population, where rubber bullets were also employed. Thousands of people participated in the protests the following day, blocking a freeway and setting self-driving taxis on fire from the company Waymo. The unrest began on Friday after immigration authorities expanded their activities in the Los Angeles region, leading to a wave of arrests.
The deployment of the National Guard, traditionally under the control of state governments, is a rare move that hasn't been ordered by a US president without explicit consent in several decades. California Governor Gavin Newsom voiced his concern, referring to it as a violation of states' sovereignty. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed similar sentiments, stating that the actions in the city were creating chaos forpolitical purposes, rather than ensuring public safety. The White House fiercely rejected the criticism.
The actions of US immigration authorities against migrants have garnered significant attention for both their brutality and apparent legal violations since President Trump took office. One of the most contentious issues is the illegal deportation of individuals to El Salvador, where they are subsequently imprisoned in collaboration with local authorities. In April, the US Supreme Court mandated the return of 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Maryland, who was illegally deported and imprisoned in El Salvador by US federal authorities.
As the enforcement of immigration policies continues to escalate, it could serve multiple purposes. The public display may be intended to provoke determined resistance, providing the president with an opportunity to test the limits of constitutional authority. On the other hand, the demonstrative brutality could be an attempt to boost Trump's approval ratings, which have been on a downward trend due to a struggling economy and inconsistent trade policy.
In a recent poll, 54% of Americans supported Trump's deportation program. However, 63% of respondents called for due process for those affected by the policy.
Historically, presidential authority exists to deploy the National Guard domestically, but its use without state consent is exceptional and typically reserved for significant national crises or civil rights enforcement. Using this authority for immigration enforcement is historically unprecedented at the federal level and raises constitutional and political questions.
- The unrest in Los Angeles, sparked by immigration policies, has expanded to include issues of war-and-conflicts and politics, as the deployment of the National Guard and the actions of immigration authorities have sparked debates about policy-and-legislation and states' sovereignty.
- The protests against the detainment of immigrants have led to general-news coverage, not just of the demonstrations themselves, but also of the legal and constitutional implications, such as the historic use of National Guard for immigration enforcement and the questionable deportation practices.
- Crime-and-justice issues have been brought to the forefront, with concerns raised about the brutal treatment of migrants and apparent legal violations, like the illegal deportation of individuals to El Salvador, where they are subsequently imprisoned in collaboration with local authorities.
