The California National Guard was deployed to Los Angeles early Sunday morning after President Trump ordered the federalization of state troops. This decision came in response to immigration raids that took place on Friday, which led to protests across the city. Some of these demonstrations turned violent, prompting the president to send at least 2,000 National Guard members to help manage the situation.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the president’s move, calling it unnecessary and "purposely inflammatory." This marks the first time in 60 years that a president has used such federal powers to deploy National Guard troops without the governor’s consent.
Under a rarely used federal law, Trump has the authority to federalize parts of the California National Guard. However, these troops are not allowed to engage directly in law enforcement actions against protesters. Instead, their mission is to support immigration law enforcement efforts. Georgetown law professor Stephen Vladeck explained that the troops are not authorized to confront or use force against demonstrators.
While Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, which would allow for more aggressive military action against civilians, he has hinted at the possibility. This act has not been used since the 1992 Los Angeles race riots.
The Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, defended the deployment. Noem stated that the National Guard troops were needed to maintain peace and order during the protests. She claimed that local law enforcement had not responded quickly enough to protect federal officers during the immigration raids. However, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) disputed this, stating they responded to calls for assistance within 55 minutes, not hours as claimed by Noem.
As the situation develops, local leaders and officials are voicing their concerns about the federal response and its implications for community relations. The deployment of troops has raised questions about the balance of power between state and federal authorities, especially in times of civil unrest.