
National Guard troops sent by Trump to quell immigration protests reach Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES: Hundreds of National Guard troops took up positions in Los Angeles Sunday on US President Donald Trump's orders, a rare deployment against the state governor's wishes after sometimes violent protests against immigration enforcement raids.
The US military said 300 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had been sent to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, and were "conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel."
Helmeted troops in camouflage gear and carrying automatic weapons could be seen in front of a federal complex -- including a detention center -- with the phrase "Our City" spray-painted on it in downtown Los Angeles.
The deployment overrode the protests of local officials, an extraordinary move not seen in decades and deemed "purposefully inflammatory" by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
It came ahead of more planned protests in the city, which has a large Latino population, including a call by organizers for a "mass mobilization" at City Hall at 2:00 pm local time (2100 GMT).
"Trump is sending 2,000 National Guard troops into LA County -- not to meet an unmet need, but to manufacture a crisis," Newsom posted on X Sunday.

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Mint
8 minutes ago
- Mint
MAGA's remaking of universities could have dire consequences
'THIS IS an economic revolution and we will win." Donald Trump's line on tariffs sounds like something from Robespierre or Engels. And as any revolutionary knows, to sweep away the old order it is not enough just to raise import duties. You also have to seize and refashion the institutions that control the culture. In America that means wresting control of Ivy League universities which play an outsize role in forming the elite (including Mr Trump's cabinet). The MAGA plan to remake the Ivies could have terrible consequences for higher education, for innovation, for economic growth and even for what sort of country America is. And it is only just beginning. The target has been exquisitely chosen. Over the past decade elite universities have lost the bipartisan support they used to enjoy. This was partly their own fault. In too many cases they succumbed to faddish groupthink about oppression, became scared of their student-customers and turned away speakers in the name of safety. At the same time, American politics became more polarised by educational achievement. Kamala Harris lost the popular vote in the 2024 presidential election. But she won Americans with post-graduate degrees by 20 points. This combination left the academy vulnerable. But the most substantive change has been within the Republican Party. Conservatives considered elite universities to be hostile territory even before William F. Buckley published 'God and Man at Yale" in 1951. Yet they also respected the basic compact that exists between universities and the federal government: that taxpayers fund scientific research and provide grants for students from poor families, and in return, universities do world-changing research. Some of the researchers may have views that irk the White House of the day. Many are foreigners. But their work ends up benefiting America. That is why, in 1962, the government funded a particle accelerator, even though some people who would use it had long hair and hated American foreign policy. And why, later that decade, researchers at American universities invented the internet, with military funding. This deal has been the source of military as well as economic power. It has contributed to almost every technological leap that has boosted output, from the internet to mRNA vaccines and GLP-1 agonists to artificial intelligence. It has made America a magnet for talented, ambitious people from around the world. It is this compact—not bringing car factories back to the rust belt—that is the key to America's prosperity. And now the Trump administration wants to tear it up. His government has used federal grants to take revenge on universities: the presidents of Princeton and Cornell criticised the government and promptly had over $1bn in grants cancelled or frozen. It has arrested foreign students who have criticised the conduct of Israel's war in Gaza. It has threatened to increase the tax on endowments: J.D. Vance (Yale Law School) has proposed raising it on large endowments from 1.4% to 35%. What it wants in return varies. Sometimes it is to eradicate the woke-mind virus. Sometimes it is to eradicate antisemitism. It always involves a double standard on free speech, according to which you can complain about cancel culture and then cheer on the deportation of a foreign student for publishing an op-ed in a college newspaper. This suggests that, as with any revolution, it is about who has power and control. So far, universities have tried to lie flat and hope Mr Trump leaves them alone, just like many of the big law firms that the president has targeted. The Ivy presidents meet every month or so, but have yet to come up with a common approach. Meanwhile, Harvard is changing the leadership of its Middle East studies centre and Columbia is on its third president in a year. This strategy is unlikely to work. The MAGA vanguard cannot believe how quickly the Ivies have capitulated. The Ivies also underestimate the fervour of the revolutionaries they are up against. Some of them don't just want to tax Harvard—they want to burn it down. Resisting the administration's assault requires courage. Harvard's endowment is about the same size as the sovereign-wealth fund of the oil-rich sultanate of Oman, which should buy some bravery. But that mooted tax could shrink it quickly. Harvard receives over $1bn in grants each year. Columbia's annual budget is $6bn; it receives $1.3bn in grants. Other elite universities are less fortunate. If even the Ivies cannot stand up to bullying, there is not much hope for elite public universities, which are just as dependent on research funding and do not have vast endowments to absorb government pressure. How, then, should universities respond? Some things that their presidents want to do anyway, such as adopting codes protecting free speech on campus, cutting administrative staff, banning the use of 'diversity" statements in hiring and ensuring more diverse viewpoints among academics, accord with the views of many Republicans (and this newspaper). But the universities should draw a clear line: even if it means losing government funding, what they teach and research is for them to decide. Like Ike This principle is one reason why America became the world's most innovative economy over the past 70 years, and why Russia and China did not. Yet even that undersells its value. Free inquiry is one of the cornerstones of American liberty, along with the freedom to criticise the president without fear of retribution. True conservatives have always known this. 'The free university", said Dwight Eisenhower in his farewell presidential address in 1961, has been 'the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery". Eisenhower, who was president of Columbia before he was president of the United States, warned that when universities become dependent on government grants, the government can control scholarship. For a long time that warning seemed a bit hysterical. America never had a president willing to exert such authority over colleges. Now it does. Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our Opinion newsletter, which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence.


Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Police make 'mass arrests' in Los Angeles during nighttime curfew
Los Angeles: Los Angeles police began arresting people in the city's downtown late Tuesday, as groups gathered in violation of an overnight curfew after a fifth day of protests against Donald Trump 's immigration crackdown. Looting and vandalism in the second-biggest US city have marred the largely peaceful protests over ramped-up arrests by immigration authorities. The demonstrations, which began Friday, and isolated acts of violence prompted Trump to take the extraordinary step of sending in troops, over the objection of the state governor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo The protests again turned ugly after dark Tuesday, but an hour into the overnight curfew only a handful of protesters were left downtown, with police making several arrests as they warned stragglers to leave. "Multiple groups continue to congregate on 1st St between Spring and Alameda" within the designated downtown curfew area, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) wrote on X late Tuesday. Live Events "Those groups are being addressed and mass arrests are being initiated." Police arrested 25 people on suspicion of violating the curfew as of Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing an LAPD spokesperson. The number of arrests was likely to rise as law enforcement worked to remove the remaining protesters from the area, the newspaper said. Earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had issued the curfew "to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting." One square mile (2.5 square kilometers) of the city's more-than-500 square mile area will be off-limits from 8:00 pm and 6:00 am (0300 to 1300 GMT) for everyone apart from residents, journalists and emergency services, she added. One protester told AFP the arrest of migrants in a city with large immigrant and Latino populations was the root of the unrest. "I think that obviously they're doing it for safety," she said of the curfew. "But I don't think that part of the problem is the peaceful protests. It's whatever else is happening on the other side that is inciting violence." At their largest, the protests have included a few thousand people taking to the streets, but smaller mobs have used the cover of darkness to set fires, daub graffiti and smash windows. Overnight, Monday 23 businesses were looted, police said, adding that more than 500 people had been arrested over recent days. Protests against immigration arrests by federal law enforcement have also sprung up in cities around the country, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin. 'Provide protection' Trump has ordered 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, along with 700 active-duty Marines, in what he has claimed is a necessary escalation to take back control -- despite the insistence of local law enforcement that they could handle matters. A military spokeswoman said the Marines were expected to be on the streets by Wednesday. Their mission will be to guard federal facilities and to accompany "federal officers in immigration enforcement operations in order to provide protection." Demonstrators told AFP the soldiers "should be respected" because they had not chosen to be in Los Angeles, but Lisa Orman blasted it as "ridiculous." "I was here for the Dodger parade," she said, referring to the LA team's World Series victory. "It was 100 times bigger," she said, branding the idea that Marines were necessary as "a big show" that Trump wanted. The Pentagon said the deployment would cost US taxpayers $134 million. Photographs issued by the Marine Corps showed men in combat fatigues using riot shields to practice crowd control techniques at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Late Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his state would deploy its National Guard "to locations across the state to ensure peace & order" after solidarity protests. "Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest," Abbott wrote on X. The Texas National Guard "will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order." Behaving like 'a tyrant' In sprawling Los Angeles on Tuesday, it was largely a typical day: tourists thronged Hollywood Boulevard, celebrities attended red carpet premieres, tens of thousands of children went to school and commuter traffic choked the streets. But at a military base in North Carolina, Trump was painting a much darker picture. "What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and national sovereignty," the Republican told troops at Fort Bragg. "This anarchy will not stand. We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy." California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has clashed with the president before, said Trump's shock militarization of the city was the behavior of "a tyrant, not a president." In a filing to the US District Court in Northern California, Newsom asked for an injunction preventing the use of troops for policing. US law largely prevents the use of the military as a policing force -- absent the declaration of an insurrection, which Trump has mused. The president "is trying to use emergency declarations to justify bringing in first the National Guard and then mobilizing Marines," said law professor Frank Bowman.
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First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
Why are LA protesters waving the Mexican flag?
As immigration protests grip Los Angeles following ICE raids and a federal troop deployment, the Mexican flag has emerged as a powerful and controversial symbol. Seen across rallies in LA County, the flag reflects cultural pride for some and raises political alarm for others. Why has it become central to this latest wave of demonstrations? read more A man skates holding a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from burning vehicles during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, near Los Angeles City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters As protests erupted across Los Angeles following a controversial string of ICE raids and the federal government's deployment of troops, one symbol stood out prominently amid the marches, rallies, and clashes: the green, white, and red Mexican flag. From downtown LA to surrounding cities like Compton and Paramount, demonstrators have carried the Mexican flag alongside American and other Latin American banners. How the Mexican flag is being used at LA protests Tensions in Los Angeles reached a boiling point after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted sweeping raids last week in the city's garment district. The operation resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants, according to federal authorities. The crackdown sparked an immediate wave of protests across various parts of LA, including the city center, Compton, and Paramount. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While many protests began peacefully, scenes of confrontation and civil unrest soon followed. Protesters voiced opposition to what they described as an indiscriminate assault on immigrant communities. Amid the chaos, many carried flags — chiefly the Mexican flag — as a gesture of solidarity and cultural pride. The Trump administration responded to the unrest by deploying approximately 2,000 National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, a decision that inflamed tensions further. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed strong opposition to the federal deployment, publicly denouncing it as a violation of California's authority. In a post on X, he stated: 'I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command… We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.' The growing presence of law enforcement and military personnel only heightened public anger, leading to more clashes and dozens of arrests in ensuing days. Meanwhile, social media posts from officials and media coverage began to focus on one vivid and recurring image: the Mexican flag flying amid smoke, police lines and protest chants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why the Mexican flag For many demonstrators, waving the Mexican flag is neither an act of rebellion nor foreign interference — it is a symbol of identity, belonging and solidarity. Los Angeles County is home to over 3.4 million residents of Mexican heritage or birth, the largest such population in any US county. According to 2023 US Census estimates, approximately 4.8 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin live in LA County, comprising 48 per cent of the population. Among them, about 74 per cent are of Mexican descent. The flag's appearance in protests is thus rooted in demographic and cultural realities. Protesters have not only carried the Mexican flag but also the flags of other Latin American countries and the United States. A man waves a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from a burning vehicle during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, near Los Angeles City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters In some cases, hybrid flags combining national symbols have appeared as well. Elizabeth Torres, 36, who protested outside a detention centre in downtown LA, articulated the dual sentiments of cultural heritage and civic pride when she told The New York Times: 'I am a very proud American. But I have to show support also for our Mexican brothers and sisters.' In the eyes of participants like Torres, the flag represents more than a nation — it's a gesture of inclusion, a reminder of familial roots, and a protest against what they see as unjust immigration enforcement practices targeting communities like theirs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Trump is seeing the 'foreign flags' While many demonstrators see the flag as a celebration of identity, the Trump administration has interpreted it as a political provocation. The visibility of foreign flags — especially the Mexican one — became a talking point for top officials who characterized the protests as a threat to national sovereignty and law enforcement. Vice President JD Vance posted on X: 'Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers.' Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, echoed similar sentiments in a widely circulated social media post: 'Foreign nationals, waving foreign flags, rioting and obstructing federal law enforcement attempting to expel illegal foreign invaders.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, sharing a photo of a protester waving the Mexican flag and declaring: 'The riots in Los Angeles prove that we desperately need more immigration enforcement personnel and resources. America must reverse the invasion unleashed by Joe Biden of millions of unvetted illegal aliens into our country.' The Department of Homeland Security released multiple images and videos featuring the Mexican flag during protests, reinforcing a narrative that equates the protests with foreign interference and lawlessness. However, legal experts and academics have pushed back on these claims, emphasizing the legality and precedent behind flag-waving in protest contexts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, an associate professor of Chicana, Chicano and Central American Studies at UCLA, told CNN: 'Waving a foreign flag – or even destroying an American one – is legal under freedom of expression rights protected by the Constitution's First Amendment.' He also pointed out that the Trump administration's reaction to the flag is part of a broader strategy to delegitimise dissent by focusing on visual symbols: 'Invoking flags to demonise protesters is a well-documented move on the part of the Trump administration, knowing that every single demonstration of this type brings out the Mexican flag.' What history tell us The current Mexican flag was officially adopted in 1968, though earlier versions date back to the early 19th century during Mexico's war for independence from Spain. In Mexico, the use of the flag is strictly regulated by law — it can only be displayed during patriotic ceremonies, official events, or under specific conditions at schools and sports functions. In the US, however, the flag has long played a role in immigrant rights demonstrations. Its use at protests became particularly prominent in 1994, during resistance to California's Proposition 187. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That controversial measure sought to deny undocumented immigrants access to public services like education and healthcare. The flag was used by demonstrators at the time to assert pride in their heritage and defy exclusionary policies. Former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda contextualised the flag's symbolism during a recent interview with CNN: 'This is something that goes back, actually, to the 1990s, when many people protested against Proposition 187 at the time. And then also the early 2000s when demonstrations all over the United States took place against several laws that were being implemented then on immigration.' Castañeda noted that while the flag is once again central to protest visuals, most of those carrying it are likely US citizens. 'Practically all of the demonstrators, all of the protesters, are American citizens,' he said. 'You would have to be quite reckless and foolish to be a Mexican citizen without papers, or even as a legal permanent resident, to go out and demonstrate today in these protests because you would most likely be arrested and deported, even if you're a legal permanent resident and certainly if you have no papers.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While critics argue that the use of foreign flags can undermine the effectiveness of a protest by appearing unpatriotic, many in Los Angeles view the flag as a deeply personal symbol. For them, it serves not to reject America but to advocate for a more inclusive version of it. How waving foreign flags in US is not new Waving foreign flags during US demonstrations is not unique to these events. Public celebrations, parades, and political rallies across the United States frequently feature foreign flags without controversy. Puerto Rican flags were widely flown during New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade. Irish flags are a staple of St. Patrick's Day celebrations. In various urban enclaves, such as Little Italy or Koreatown, national banners proudly decorate businesses and neighbourhoods. What makes the Mexican flag's use controversial in this moment is the political context. As the Trump administration accelerates efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, invoke the Alien Enemies Act, and implement stricter immigration enforcement measures, any sign of cultural pride among immigrant communities has become a lightning rod for criticism. The administration insists it is targeting 'the worst of the worst' in its enforcement push, but immigration advocates argue that ordinary families, workers, and community members are being swept up in these operations without just cause. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies