California Governor Newsom Condemns Federal Deployment of 2,000 National Guard Troops to LA

Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed his disapproval of the federal government's decision to take control of the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers to the Los Angeles area. This move comes in response to escalating tensions between protesters and immigration agents following a series of raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region. The protests, which began on Friday outside the Los Angeles Federal Building, have since spread to other areas, including Paramount, a city south of LA with a significant Latino population.

Newsom described the federal government's actions as "purposefully inflammatory" and warned that it would only escalate tensions. He criticized the federal government for sowing chaos to justify escalating the situation, stating that such behavior is not befitting of a civilized country. President Donald Trump, in response, accused Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of being unable to manage the situation effectively, asserting that the federal government would intervene to resolve the issue.

The deployment of the National Guard follows a day of intense clashes between protesters and law enforcement. On Friday, at least 44 people were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations during the raids. Protesters, numbering around 1,000, gathered outside the federal building, leading to confrontations with law enforcement officers. The situation escalated further on Saturday, with protesters in Paramount facing off against law enforcement officers, resulting in the use of tear gas, stun guns, and riot shields.

Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the community's fear following the recent federal immigration enforcement actions and emphasized the right to peaceful protest while condemning violence and destruction. She assured that the city was working closely with law enforcement to find a resolution. The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, described the protests as violent mobs attacking ICE officers and federal law enforcement agents, labeling such activities as essential to halting illegal immigration.

The clashes in Los Angeles are part of a broader nationwide crackdown on illegal migration initiated by President Trump. Following his re-election in January, he set a target of arresting 3,000 suspected illegal migrants per day and promised to secure the US-Mexico border. The deployment of the National Guard is seen as a significant escalation in the federal government's efforts to control the situation, with the potential to further inflame tensions in the region.