US President Donald Trump says he has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to uphold "very strong law and order", after violent protests against immigration raids erupted in America's second-biggest city. His decision to summon the National Guard overruled the authority of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the move "purposefully inflammatory". At least 118 immigrants have been arrested in operations across the city over the past week, which led to clashes as demonstrators gathered outside businesses that were thought to have been raided. The LA County Sheriff's Department said crowds "became increasingly agitated, throwing objects and exhibiting violent behaviour", prompting police to use tear gas and stun grenades. Governor Newsom, along with the LA mayor and a California congresswoman, said in separate comments they believed local police could handle the protests. Twenty-nine people were arrested, according to local officials. To quell the growing unrest, Trump issued a directive under a rarely used federal law that allows the president to federalise National Guard troops under certain circumstances. The National Guard acts as a hybrid entity that serves both state and federal interests. Typically, a state's National Guard force is activated at the request of the governor. In this case, Trump has circumvented that step by invoking a specific provision of the US Code of Armed Services titled10 U.S.C. 12406, which lists three circumstances under which the president can federalise the National Guard. If the US "is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation"; "there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion" against the government; or "the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States". Trump said in hismemorandum requesting the National Guardthat the protests in Los Angeles "constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States". The National Guard's role in Los Angeles will be to protect federal agents, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) and Homeland Security, as they carry out their duties. The troops will not be conducting their own immigration raids or performing ordinary law enforcement activities against civilians. The law generally prohibits domestic use of federal troops for civilian law enforcement, outside of some exceptions likethe Insurrection Act. Although Trump has threatened to invoke that act in the past, during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, for example, he has not done so here. According to experts, this is the first time the National Guard has been activated without request of the state's governor since 1965. In 1992, the National Guard was federalised in LA during riots after police officers were acquitted for the beating of black motorist Rodney King. Then-President George HW Bush sent troops at the request of California's governor at the time, Pete Wilson. In 2020, National Guard troops were deployed in some states in the wake of protests over the killing of George Floyd. Senior figures in the Trump administration have backed the president's decision to mobilise the National Guard. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media it was "COMMON SENSE", adding: "Violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated." Hegseth also said that active duty US Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton would be sent if needed and were on "high alert". Senator Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, told CNN: "Does it look like it's [the protests] under control? Absolutely not." However, several Californian officials insist city police are equipped to deal with the unrest, and the military's involvement is unnecessary. California congresswoman Nanette Barragán, a Democrat who represents the city of Paramount in LA's suburbs where the protests have taken place, told CNN: "We don't need the help." The National Guard is "only going to make things worse", she said. Her words echo Governor Newsom, who also spoke against National Guard troops being sent to his state. "The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles - not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle," Newsom wrote on X. LA Mayor Karen Bass told ABC7 the National Guard was not needed. Ice officers conducted raids in heavily Latino parts of LA on Friday, as part of Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Forty-four people were arrested, said a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of ICE. The efforts are a part of the president's aim to enact the "biggest deportation operation" in US history. Los Angeles, where over one-third of the population is foreign-born, has been a big target. In early May,Ice announcedit had arrested 239 undocumented migrants during a weeklong operation in the LA area, as overall arrests and deportations lagged behind Trump's expectations. The following month, the White House increased its goal for Ice officials to make at least 3,000 arrests per day. Authorities have expanded their search increasingly to include workplaces such as restaurants and retail shops. The LA raids that sparked the protests occurred at a wholesale clothing supplier and a Home Depot outlet. "You're going to see more work site enforcement than you've ever seen in the history of this nation," Trump's border official Thomas Homan said. The ambitious deportation campaign has included rounding up migrants on military planes and sending them to Guantanamo Baybefore bringing them back to Louisiana. Other migrants have been deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador, including at least one who was in the US legally. Some migrants have been sent to countries where they are not from. Many of these actions have been met by legal challenges in court. On Friday, protesters clashed with federal agents outside a clothing wholesaler. They threw objects at agents and attempted to block federal officials from carrying out their arrests. In response, officials in riot gear used flash bang grenades and pepper spray to subdue the crowd. Outside a Home Depot store in Paramount, roughly 20 miles (32 km) south of downtown LA, tear gas and flash bangs were deployed against protesters that gathered again on Saturday. In a social media post, Ice described the scene on Saturday, saying: "Our brave officers were vastly outnumbered - over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building." Responding to the protests, the LA Police Department said it made 29 arrests, almost all for failure to disperse, which is a misdemeanour, according to the BBC's media partner CBS News. On Sunday, day three of the protests, National Guard troops arrived to LA and were seen walling off protesters outside of a federal building that contains a detention centre. In one of the more tense exchanges, federal officers with Department of Homeland Security badges fired what appeared to be tear gas and pepper spray and some kind of non-lethal round towards the crowd.
When can a president deploy the National Guard?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Trump Deploys National Guard to Los Angeles Amid Immigration Raids Protests"
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TruthLens AI Summary
In response to escalating protests in Los Angeles against immigration raids, President Donald Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city to maintain what he described as 'very strong law and order.' This decision has drawn ire from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who criticized the move as 'purposefully inflammatory.' The protests emerged after immigration enforcement operations led to the arrest of at least 118 immigrants and resulted in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. As tensions flared, the LA County Sheriff's Department reported that crowds became increasingly agitated, leading to police deploying tear gas and stun grenades to manage the situation. Local officials, including Newsom and LA's mayor, expressed confidence that local police could handle the unrest without federal intervention, with Newsom asserting that the federal government was unnecessarily escalating tensions in California. Despite this, Trump invoked a federal law that allows him to federalize the National Guard under certain circumstances, including cases of rebellion or when the president is unable to enforce U.S. laws with regular forces. He characterized the protests as a form of rebellion against federal authority, which justified his actions under the law.
The National Guard's deployment marks the first time since 1965 that federal troops have been activated without a request from the state's governor. The Guard's role in this deployment is primarily to protect federal agents, such as those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as they execute their duties in Los Angeles. However, the troops are not intended to conduct their own immigration enforcement actions. The protests have been part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration, with ICE carrying out operations in heavily Latino neighborhoods of LA. As part of Trump's ambitious deportation campaign, the administration has set high arrest targets, and the protests reflect the community's pushback against these aggressive enforcement measures. Notably, the situation remains tense, with ongoing clashes between protesters and federal agents, and the involvement of the National Guard is viewed by many as exacerbating the unrest rather than alleviating it.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles by President Trump amid protests against immigration raids raises significant political and social implications. The article highlights the tension between federal and state authorities, particularly the conflict between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Political Landscape and Motivations
The article is reflective of the ongoing political divide in the United States, where federal actions often clash with state governance. Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard over the objections of local authorities appears to be a strategic maneuver to assert federal power and project a narrative of law and order. By framing the protests as a rebellion against federal authority, Trump seeks to bolster his administration's tough stance on immigration and law enforcement.
Public Sentiment
The portrayal of the protests as violent and rebellious serves to shape public perception, potentially swaying opinions in favor of more stringent immigration policies. The language used in the article could evoke fear and urgency, prompting some segments of the population to support federal intervention. This approach may alienate others who view the use of the National Guard as an overreach of federal power, particularly in a state that has historically leaned Democratic.
Hidden Agendas
While the article focuses on the immediate events surrounding the protests, it may obscure broader issues such as the underlying social and economic factors driving the discontent among immigrant communities. By emphasizing the chaos and violence, there is a risk of diverting attention from the root causes of the protests, such as immigration policies and community relations.
Comparative Context
When compared to other media reports, this article aligns with a trend of highlighting federal versus state tensions. It may serve to reinforce a narrative that positions the Trump administration as a staunch defender of national security, particularly in the face of perceived threats from within the country. This creates a linkage with other recent news stories that focus on law enforcement and immigration as central themes.
Potential Consequences
The implications of this decision could be profound, affecting local governance, community trust in law enforcement, and broader societal divisions. Increased federal presence could lead to heightened tensions in communities, potentially escalating violence rather than quelling it. Economically, this may deter investment in areas perceived as unstable, while politically, it could galvanize voter bases on both sides of the aisle, further polarizing the electorate.
Target Audiences
This article is likely to resonate with conservative audiences who prioritize law and order and support for federal action against immigration. Conversely, it may alienate progressive groups advocating for immigrant rights and local governance, highlighting the article's role in the larger cultural and political discourse.
Market Impact
In terms of market implications, heightened tensions surrounding immigration and law enforcement could impact sectors such as real estate, tourism, and local businesses in affected areas. Companies that rely on immigrant labor may face challenges, and public sentiment could influence stock prices in industries related to security and law enforcement.
Global Context
On a global scale, the article reflects ongoing debates about immigration and national sovereignty, resonating with similar issues faced by other countries. The framing of internal unrest as a national security issue connects to broader discussions about global migration and the rise of nationalist sentiments.
Artificial Intelligence Influence
While it is unclear if AI was explicitly used in drafting this article, the structured presentation and choice of language suggest a sophisticated editorial process that may be influenced by data-driven insights into public sentiment. AI models could contribute to shaping narratives by analyzing trends in reader engagement and emotional responses to certain topics, although there is no direct evidence in this case.
The article’s manipulative potential lies in its framing of events and the emotional language used, which may serve to reinforce existing biases and fears among readers. By depicting protests as rebellion, it risks simplifying complex social issues and fostering division. Overall, it is important to critically assess the reliability of such reports, as they can significantly shape public discourse and policy decisions.
Ultimately, the reliability of this news piece is contingent on its adherence to factual reporting and the balance it provides in presenting multiple perspectives. Given the charged nature of the topic and the potential for bias, readers should approach this article with a critical mindset.