National Guard Sent to Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate
LOS ANGELES (AP) — About 300 National Guard troops were deployed in Los Angeles on Sunday on orders from President Donald Trump following clashes between federal immigration authorities and protesters seeking to block them from carrying out deportations.
Some of the troops were stationed outside Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, one of several sites that have seen confrontations involving hundreds of demonstrators and federal law enforcement in the last two days.
As the guards stood around a federal complex, dressed in tactical gear and carrying long guns, the surrounding streets were largely quiet, with just a handful of protesters gathered on a sidewalk.
The move came over the objections of Newsom, who accused Trump of a 'complete overreaction.' It marked the first time in decades that a state's national guard was activated without a request from its governor, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
In a directive Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.'
Approximately 300 National Guard members were deployed Sunday to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, according to military officials. Several protests and marches were scheduled to kick off Sunday.
The arrival of the guard follows two days of relatively small protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading on Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and neighboring Compton.
As federal agents set up a staging area near a Home Depot in Paramount, demonstrators sought to block Border Patrol vehicles, with some hurling rocks and chunks of cement. In response, federal agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls. Los Angeles police said dozens were arrested.
Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement.
Newsom called Trump on Friday night and they spoke for about 40 minutes, according to the governor's office. It was not clear if they spoke Saturday or Sunday.
There was some confusion surrounding the exact timing of the guard's arrival. Shortly before midnight local time, Trump congratulated the National Guard on a 'job well done.' But less than an hour later, Bass said troops had yet to arrive in the city.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that the purpose of the deployment was to 'provide security for operations and to make sure that there are peaceful protests.'
The troops included members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to a social media post from the Department of Defense that showed dozens of National Guard members with long guns and an armored vehicle.
In a signal of the administration's aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also threatened to deploy active-duty Marines 'if violence continues' in the region.
Newsom, a Democrat, described Trump's decision to call in the National Guard as a 'provocative show of force' that would only escalate tensions, adding that Hegseth's threat to deploy Marines on American soil was 'deranged behavior.'
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said the order by Trump reflected 'a president moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism' and 'usurping the powers of the United States Congress.'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed the president's move, doubling down on Republicans' criticisms of California Democrats.
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Arab Times
5 hours ago
- Arab Times
National Guard Sent to Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate
LOS ANGELES (AP) — About 300 National Guard troops were deployed in Los Angeles on Sunday on orders from President Donald Trump following clashes between federal immigration authorities and protesters seeking to block them from carrying out deportations. Some of the troops were stationed outside Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, one of several sites that have seen confrontations involving hundreds of demonstrators and federal law enforcement in the last two days. As the guards stood around a federal complex, dressed in tactical gear and carrying long guns, the surrounding streets were largely quiet, with just a handful of protesters gathered on a sidewalk. The move came over the objections of Newsom, who accused Trump of a 'complete overreaction.' It marked the first time in decades that a state's national guard was activated without a request from its governor, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. In a directive Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' Approximately 300 National Guard members were deployed Sunday to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, according to military officials. Several protests and marches were scheduled to kick off Sunday. The arrival of the guard follows two days of relatively small protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading on Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and neighboring Compton. As federal agents set up a staging area near a Home Depot in Paramount, demonstrators sought to block Border Patrol vehicles, with some hurling rocks and chunks of cement. In response, federal agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls. Los Angeles police said dozens were arrested. Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement. Newsom called Trump on Friday night and they spoke for about 40 minutes, according to the governor's office. It was not clear if they spoke Saturday or Sunday. There was some confusion surrounding the exact timing of the guard's arrival. Shortly before midnight local time, Trump congratulated the National Guard on a 'job well done.' But less than an hour later, Bass said troops had yet to arrive in the city. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that the purpose of the deployment was to 'provide security for operations and to make sure that there are peaceful protests.' The troops included members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to a social media post from the Department of Defense that showed dozens of National Guard members with long guns and an armored vehicle. In a signal of the administration's aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also threatened to deploy active-duty Marines 'if violence continues' in the region. Newsom, a Democrat, described Trump's decision to call in the National Guard as a 'provocative show of force' that would only escalate tensions, adding that Hegseth's threat to deploy Marines on American soil was 'deranged behavior.' Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said the order by Trump reflected 'a president moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism' and 'usurping the powers of the United States Congress.' House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed the president's move, doubling down on Republicans' criticisms of California Democrats.
Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Students in Kuwait weigh risks of US education amid attack on universities
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Amal describes the space as 'built by students, for students,' where people shared food, cared for one another, and engaged in honest, meaningful conversations. NEW YORK: Students and pro-Palestine activists face police as they gather outside of Columbia University to demand divestment from entities complicit in human rights violations in Palestine on on April 18, 2024 in New York City. NEW YORK: Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestine "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24, 2024. But as the academic year wore on, the mood shifted. 'Going to school didn't feel so safe,' she recalled. Several Zionist faculty members, she said, acted in racist and provocative ways - particularly toward Muslim and Arab students. Her department building, where many students and faculty were people of color, was vandalized. Eventually, the university sent in riot police to forcibly clear the encampment on April 30, 2024. 'It was disappointing but not surprising,' Amal said. 'If anything, this highlights how universities are not these ostensible places for knowledge production and honest conversation. The university is also an arm of the state, enforcing mainstream hegemonic ideology.' Amal asked to use a pseudonym due to fears that speaking out could jeopardize her visa status. International students in the crosshairs Columbia's high-profile visibility in the pro-Palestine movement has made it a prime target in President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on international students. Since taking office in January, his administration has revoked thousands of student visas and green cards. An NBC News investigation found that students in at least 32 states have been affected. Many of those targeted by the administration were involved in campus pro-Palestine protests, had ties to Palestine, or expressed support for Gaza on social media. Some, like Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk, have been arrested. The administration is using a Cold War-era 1952 immigration law to justify deportations, citing 'serious adverse foreign policy consequences.' In some cases, even minor infractions - like a speeding ticket - appear to have been used as grounds for removal. Amal didn't suffer legal repercussions for her participation in the protests and remains a student at the university. But other Kuwaiti students seem to have been affected by the crackdown. Kuwait's Minister of Higher Education, Nader Al-Jallal, recently revealed that 40 Kuwaiti students have had their US visas revoked. Though he did not offer details, Arabic-language media reported that Kuwait is coordinating with the US embassy to reinstate their visas and help affected students complete their semester online. The US embassy declined to comment when asked by Kuwait Times about the matter. Fear from afar Abdullah, an expat student in Kuwait accepted into a top US university, has been watching the news unfold with growing anxiety. A lifelong admirer of American culture, he had always dreamed of studying there. 'Growing up, watching movies, sports, and all kinds of media, the US always felt like a dream,' he said. 'Now I feel sad, disappointed.' Like many young people in Kuwait, Abdullah has posted on his social media accounts in solidarity with Palestine. But his posts weighed heavily on his mind now. 'The US feels less like the land of freedom and opportunity, and more like a place where you're controlled - where every word and thought has to align with the government.' He asked to use a pseudonym over concerns about his pending visa application. A new layer of surveillance Abdullah's fears are not unfounded. Since 2019, US visa applicants are required to submit their social media handles. Even after a visa is approved, travelers face uncertainty at the border, where officials are authorized to search phones upon arrival. This practice has led to visa cancellations in the past. In March 2025, a French scientist was turned away at the border after US agents found private messages on his phone criticizing the Trump administration. 'My fear is the unknown, knowing that at any second I could be stripped of my visa and have to return back to my country, without a genuine valid reason. It doesn't hold the sense of security anymore when everyday could be your last day,' he said Adding to the uncertainty, US embassies were ordered last week to pause student visa appointments as the administration ramps up social media screening. US officials defend the policy as a standard practice to ensure US national security. 'Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes security vetting to protect US citizens at home,' said the US embassy in Kuwait in a statement last week. 'This is not a new policy. Like all sovereign countries, the United States has always strived to ascertain the identity of visa applicants, reasons for their intended travel, as well as their plans while there.' The embassy added that visa applicants may continue to submit applications and encouraged them to apply 'well in advance' of their anticipated travel date. 'Why take the chance?' The Trump administration has thrown a series of curveballs at colleges and universities, leaving many institutions - and their students - on edge. At least $2 billion in research grants have already been slashed, threatening innovation in fields ranging from medicine to consumer technology. But beyond the immediate disruptions, educators and analysts warn of deeper, longer-term consequences: an ideological shift in the US education system that could reshape its values and mission for years to come. They say the administration appears to be targeting institutions it views as politically unfriendly, with no clear standards or process - creating an atmosphere of uncertainty that's as destabilizing as the policies themselves. 'There is a fear knowing I'm committing two years of my life to living in this country, and really not knowing where the Trump administration is taking things,' said Alma, another student recently accepted into Columbia University's master's program. Alma has asked to use a pseudonym due to concerns over her legal status in the US. The challenges are made harder by her parents' growing concern. 'They saw how stressed I was when I was travelling most recently, and I don't think they want me to live a life of stress,' she said. 'They're like, 'Why would you be there? We fought our entire lives for you to be in a safe environment.'' Her parents are not alone. Salman, a Kuwaiti father, is now advising his son to look elsewhere for university studies. 'Every few weeks we hear of people being turned away at the border, visas canceled without warning. It seems like a risk to his future, and to his safety,' he said. 'Why take that chance when you can get the same quality education in the UK, or even here in Kuwait or the Gulf?' Amideast, an NGO that promotes American education abroad, declined to comment when contacted by Kuwait Times to ask about how they are addressing parental concerns. Salma and Amal still hope the quality of education will be worth the risk. But there's a growing realization that the US ideal of free speech and opportunity may no longer hold true for many students from the Arab world. 'The idea that the West - or America - has more free speech than other countries is not true,' Amal said.
Arab Times
13 hours ago
- Arab Times
How Thailand Laborers Became Hostages In The Israel-Hamas War
BANGKOK (AP) — Israel says it has retrieved the body of a 35-year-old Thai hostage who was abducted into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war Nattapong Pinta was among 31 Thais taken by the Hamas militant group. Thailand's foreign ministry in a statement Saturday confirmed that Pinta, the last Thai hostage in Gaza, was confirmed dead. It said the bodies of two others have yet to be retrieved. The ministry has said 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas. They were among tens of thousands of Thai workers in Israel. Here's a look at what they were doing. Why are there so many Thais in Israel? Israel once relied heavily on Palestinian workers, but it started bringing in large numbers of migrant workers after the 1987-93 Palestinian revolt, known as the first Intifada. Most came from Thailand, and Thais remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in Israel today, earning considerably more than they can at home. Thailand and Israel implemented a bilateral agreement a decade ago to ease the way for workers in the agriculture sector. Israel has come under criticism for the conditions under which the Thai farm laborers work. A Human Rights Watch report in 2015 said they often were housed in makeshift and inadequate accommodation and 'were paid salaries significantly below the legal minimum wage, forced to work long hours above the legal maximum, subjected to unsafe working conditions and denied their right to change employers.'A watchdog group found more recently that most were still paid below the legal minimum wage. How many Thai nationals work in Israel? There were about 30,000 Thai workers, primarily working on farms, in Israel prior to the attack by Hamas In the wake of the attack, some 7,000 returned home, primarily on government evacuation flights, but higher wages than those available at home have continued to attract new arrivals. The Thai ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, recently said there are now more than 38,000 Thai workers in the country. What happened after some left? Faced with a labor shortage in the wake of the exodus, Israel's Agriculture Ministry announced incentives to try to attract foreign workers back to evacuated areas. Among other things, it offered to extend work visas and to pay bonuses of about $500 a month. Thailand's Labor Ministry granted 3,966 Thai workers permission to work in Israel in 2024, keeping Israel in the top four destinations for Thais working abroad last year. Thai migrant workers generally come from poorer regions of the country, especially the northeast, and even before the bonuses, the jobs in Israel paid many times what they could make at home.
