LA Democrats want Trump to ‘defy the law' and not enforce immigration policy
The Australian's Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan says California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass want Donald Trump to "defy the law" and not enforce immigration policy, which was a major platform in his election.
"The Democratic office holders are basically defying the law – they are saying they don't want immigration law enforced," Mr Sheridan told Sky News Australia.
"The mayor said there wouldn't be this trouble if Trump didn't have his ICE raids.
"Trump was elected very specifically on a platform that he would shut the border down in the south and deport illegal immigrants."
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News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Trump deploys Marines as tensions rise over Los Angeles protests
President Donald Trump ordered active-duty US Marines and 2,000 more National Guard troops into Los Angeles on Monday, vowing those protesting immigration arrests would be "hit harder" than ever. Trump's extraordinary mobilization of 700 full-time professional military personnel -- and thousands of National Guard troops -- came on the fourth day of street protests triggered by dozens of immigration arrests in a city with huge foreign-born and Latino populations. California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the move, posting on X that US Marines "shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President. This is un-American." The deployment came after demonstrators took over streets in downtown LA on Sunday, torching cars and looting stores in scenes that saw law enforcement responding with tear gas and rubber bullets. Monday's demonstrations unfolded largely peacefully, however, after weekend protests triggered by dozens of arrests of people authorities said were illegal migrants and gang members. "Pigs go home!" demonstrators shouted at National Guardsmen outside a federal detention center. Others banged on the sides of unmarked vehicles as they passed through police containment lines. One small business owner whose property was graffitied was supportive of the strongarm tactics. "I think it's needed to stop the vandalism," she told AFP, declining to give her name. Others were horrified. "They're meant to be protecting us, but instead, they're like, being sent to attack us," Kelly Diemer, 47, told AFP. "This is not a democracy anymore." In the nearby city of Santa Ana, about 32 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Los Angeles, law enforcement fired tear gas and flash-bang grenades on protesters chanting against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency as darkness fell. -'Hit harder' - Trump, speaking in Washington, branded the protesters "professional agitators and insurrectionists." On social media, he said protesters spat at troops and if they continued to do so, "I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before." Despite isolated and eye-catching acts of violence, officials and local law enforcement stressed the majority of protesters over the weekend had been peaceful. Schools across Los Angeles were operating normally on Monday, while the rhythms of life in the sprawling city appeared largely unchanged. Contrasting Trump's descriptions of the protests, Mayor Karen Bass said "this is isolated to a few streets. This is not citywide civil unrest." Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said local authorities were able to control the city. "The introduction of federal, military personnel without direct coordination creates logistical challenges and risks confusion during critical incidents," he told reporters. At least 56 people were arrested over two days and five officers suffered minor injuries, Los Angeles Police Department officials said, while about 60 people were arrested in protests in San Francisco. Protesters also scuffled with police in New York City and in Austin, Texas on Monday. Police made several arrests after around 100 people gathered near a federal building in Manhattan where immigration hearings are held, an AFP reporter there saw, while law enforcement fired tear gas on dozens of protesters in Austin, NBC affiliate KXAN reported. Trump's use of the military was an "incredibly rare" move for a US president, Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a former lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, told AFP. The National Guard has not been deployed over the head of a state governor since 1965 at the height of the civil rights movement. US law largely prevents the use of the military as a policing force on home soil absent an insurrection. For good reason, VanLandingham said, explaining that troops such as the Marines are trained to use lethal force, as opposed to domestic peacetime law enforcement. "What does 'protect' mean to a heavily armed Marine??? Who has not/not trained with local law enforcement, hence creating a command and control nightmare?" she told AFP via email. The Pentagon said late Monday Trump had authorized an extra 2,000 guardsmen, seemingly on top of the 2,000 he deployed over the weekend.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
California to sue Donald Trump over National Guard deployment in LA protests
Roughly 700 Marines are deploying to the Los Angeles area to protect federal buildings and personnel in the wake of weekend protests over immigration that have already led President Trump to federalise National Guard troops, defence and congressional officials said. The troops, which are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., won't engage with protesters, US Northern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in North America, said in a statement. A senior administration official told reporters on Monday evening that the move came in light of increased threats against federal officers and federal buildings. The unusual decision marks the first time in more than three decades that Marines have been sent into a US city to address civil unrest. It came over the objections of California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has called the federal intervention an intrusion on state sovereignty and vowed to sue in response. 'They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfil the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President,' Newsom wrote in a message on X. The troops, which could arrive in the Los Angeles area as soon as tonight, will be under the US Northern Command, which is responsible for US military operations in North America. The Marines are among the troops Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said over the weekend were prepared to deploy on orders. It is unclear how long the Marines will deploy, what kind of weapons they are authorised to carry or their specific orders. A statement by the US Northern Command said that 2,100 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines will protect federal personnel and property under the command of Task Force 51, the headquarters that has been assigned the mission. The forces have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force, the command said. On Monday night, the president approved the deployment of an additional 2,000 California National Guardsmen in response to the protests, the Pentagon said in a post on X. Once the troops are all in place, there will be roughly 4,000 federalised National Guard members in California. A presidential order issued Saturday by Trump directed the Pentagon to use the National Guard and 'other members of the Regular Armed Forces as necessary' to protect federal 'functions and property.' The last time Marines deployed to quell civil unrest was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which erupted after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. President George H.W. Bush acted after he received a request from California Gov. Pete Wilson to help contain the violence that erupted after the acquittal of the police officers. Bush invoked the Insurrection Act, federalising the California National Guard. He then deployed roughly 2,000 Army soldiers from nearby Fort Ord and 1,500 Marines from Camp Pendleton. In this instance, Trump didn't invoke the Insurrection Act, a 1792 law that allows the president to deploy the US military domestically in some instances, such as putting down civil disorder or a rebellion, but instead appeared to authorise the deployment under the weekend executive order. National Guard troops are part-time soldiers assigned to a state and are usually under the governor's authority. Active-duty troops answer solely to the commander in chief and their focus is on defending the US Trump, who won his re-election campaign on a pledge to crack down on illegal immigration, has embraced fights with Democrats who have said his tactics go beyond his constitutional limits. Though US officials have said the role of the National Guard and Marine forces in Los Angeles will be limited, the broad nature of the order has spurred concerns that it could also be laying the foundations for future military actions against protesters elsewhere in the country. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 bars the armed forces from law enforcement except under certain circumstances. California Governor Gavin Newsom has dared border tsar Tom Homan to arrest him as he threatened to. Picture: AP. The Los Angeles deployment also comes on the heels of other steps in which Trump has used his executive authority to push the boundaries of using troops on US soil. Those include authorising active‑duty troops to detain migrants in newly created military zones along the southern border, using U.S. bases as detention areas and flying detainees out of the country on US Air Force planes. 'This is Trump's dream,' Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who as a Marine officer served multiple tours during the war in Iraq, said Monday. 'This is exactly what he has wanted to do: turn the military against the American people. Donald Trump has never respected what Marines do overseas, but has always wanted to use them to force his political agenda at home.' It is rare for a president to send National Guard troops or active-duty military to a state without an explicit request from a governor or invoking the Insurrection Act. President Lyndon Johnson federalised the National Guard and sent them to Alabama to protect protesters marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 without a request from the state's governor. Johnson invoked the Insurrection Act. Active-duty troops were used by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1957 without permission of the state's governor. They were used to uphold a Supreme Court ruling that segregated schools were inherently unequal, which enabled Black children to enrol at a previously segregated school in Little Rock, Ark. Eisenhower also relied on the Insurrection Act. Dow Jones
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Trump doubles down on National Guard deployment to LA
Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of an additional 2000 National Guard members to Los Angeles as California mounts a case that the US President's actions have intensified protests over immigration raids. Officials said the order would put them on active duty but that it could take a day or two to get troops moving. The deployment of the extra troops, on top of the 2000 already authorised, came shortly after the announcement that around 700 Marines would also be dispatched. Governor Gavin Newsom called the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both "illegal and immoral." "This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego," said Newsom, a Democrat. Around 700 Marines are being deployed from their base in the Southern California desert to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents, US Northern Command said in a statement. Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act to allow the Marines and National Guard troops to carry out law enforcement duties. It is not clear if he intends to. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement on Monday he was confident in his department's ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the Marines' arrival without coordinating with police presented a "significant logistical and operational challenge" for them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state's lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops by telling reporters that Trump had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. "We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California National Guard troops" Bonta said. He planned to seek a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests beginning on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. Crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly. Some of those who stayed threw objects ranging from rocks to electric scooters at police and their vehicles. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labour leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. His arrest while protesting the immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. Protesters linked hands outside the downtown federal detention centre where Huerta was being held, and refused police requests to move away. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organisers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger by the troop deployments, saying he set off Sunday's clashes. "This was not inevitable," he said. Trump said Monday that the city would have been "completely obliterated" if he had not deployed the Guard. Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders "were afraid to do anything." Other protests were taking shape across LA County, as confirmed reports of federal immigration agents in the cities of Whittier and Huntington Park south of Los Angeles spurred anger from activists. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country. Governor Newsom urged Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter on Sunday, calling it a "serious breach of state sovereignty." The governor also told protesters that they were playing into Trump's plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction. "Trump wants chaos and he's instigated violence," he said. "Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don't give him the excuse he's looking for." The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts. Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of an additional 2000 National Guard members to Los Angeles as California mounts a case that the US President's actions have intensified protests over immigration raids. Officials said the order would put them on active duty but that it could take a day or two to get troops moving. The deployment of the extra troops, on top of the 2000 already authorised, came shortly after the announcement that around 700 Marines would also be dispatched. Governor Gavin Newsom called the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both "illegal and immoral." "This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego," said Newsom, a Democrat. Around 700 Marines are being deployed from their base in the Southern California desert to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents, US Northern Command said in a statement. Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act to allow the Marines and National Guard troops to carry out law enforcement duties. It is not clear if he intends to. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement on Monday he was confident in his department's ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the Marines' arrival without coordinating with police presented a "significant logistical and operational challenge" for them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state's lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops by telling reporters that Trump had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. "We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California National Guard troops" Bonta said. He planned to seek a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests beginning on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. Crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly. Some of those who stayed threw objects ranging from rocks to electric scooters at police and their vehicles. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labour leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. His arrest while protesting the immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. Protesters linked hands outside the downtown federal detention centre where Huerta was being held, and refused police requests to move away. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organisers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger by the troop deployments, saying he set off Sunday's clashes. "This was not inevitable," he said. Trump said Monday that the city would have been "completely obliterated" if he had not deployed the Guard. Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders "were afraid to do anything." Other protests were taking shape across LA County, as confirmed reports of federal immigration agents in the cities of Whittier and Huntington Park south of Los Angeles spurred anger from activists. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country. Governor Newsom urged Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter on Sunday, calling it a "serious breach of state sovereignty." The governor also told protesters that they were playing into Trump's plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction. "Trump wants chaos and he's instigated violence," he said. "Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don't give him the excuse he's looking for." The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts. Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of an additional 2000 National Guard members to Los Angeles as California mounts a case that the US President's actions have intensified protests over immigration raids. Officials said the order would put them on active duty but that it could take a day or two to get troops moving. The deployment of the extra troops, on top of the 2000 already authorised, came shortly after the announcement that around 700 Marines would also be dispatched. Governor Gavin Newsom called the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both "illegal and immoral." "This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego," said Newsom, a Democrat. Around 700 Marines are being deployed from their base in the Southern California desert to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents, US Northern Command said in a statement. Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act to allow the Marines and National Guard troops to carry out law enforcement duties. It is not clear if he intends to. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement on Monday he was confident in his department's ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the Marines' arrival without coordinating with police presented a "significant logistical and operational challenge" for them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state's lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops by telling reporters that Trump had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. "We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California National Guard troops" Bonta said. He planned to seek a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests beginning on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. Crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly. Some of those who stayed threw objects ranging from rocks to electric scooters at police and their vehicles. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labour leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. His arrest while protesting the immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. Protesters linked hands outside the downtown federal detention centre where Huerta was being held, and refused police requests to move away. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organisers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger by the troop deployments, saying he set off Sunday's clashes. "This was not inevitable," he said. Trump said Monday that the city would have been "completely obliterated" if he had not deployed the Guard. Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders "were afraid to do anything." Other protests were taking shape across LA County, as confirmed reports of federal immigration agents in the cities of Whittier and Huntington Park south of Los Angeles spurred anger from activists. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country. Governor Newsom urged Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter on Sunday, calling it a "serious breach of state sovereignty." The governor also told protesters that they were playing into Trump's plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction. "Trump wants chaos and he's instigated violence," he said. "Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don't give him the excuse he's looking for." The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts. Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of an additional 2000 National Guard members to Los Angeles as California mounts a case that the US President's actions have intensified protests over immigration raids. Officials said the order would put them on active duty but that it could take a day or two to get troops moving. The deployment of the extra troops, on top of the 2000 already authorised, came shortly after the announcement that around 700 Marines would also be dispatched. Governor Gavin Newsom called the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both "illegal and immoral." "This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego," said Newsom, a Democrat. Around 700 Marines are being deployed from their base in the Southern California desert to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents, US Northern Command said in a statement. Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act to allow the Marines and National Guard troops to carry out law enforcement duties. It is not clear if he intends to. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement on Monday he was confident in his department's ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the Marines' arrival without coordinating with police presented a "significant logistical and operational challenge" for them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state's lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops by telling reporters that Trump had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. "We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California National Guard troops" Bonta said. He planned to seek a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests beginning on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. Crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly. Some of those who stayed threw objects ranging from rocks to electric scooters at police and their vehicles. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labour leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. His arrest while protesting the immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. Protesters linked hands outside the downtown federal detention centre where Huerta was being held, and refused police requests to move away. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organisers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger by the troop deployments, saying he set off Sunday's clashes. "This was not inevitable," he said. Trump said Monday that the city would have been "completely obliterated" if he had not deployed the Guard. Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders "were afraid to do anything." Other protests were taking shape across LA County, as confirmed reports of federal immigration agents in the cities of Whittier and Huntington Park south of Los Angeles spurred anger from activists. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country. Governor Newsom urged Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter on Sunday, calling it a "serious breach of state sovereignty." The governor also told protesters that they were playing into Trump's plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction. "Trump wants chaos and he's instigated violence," he said. "Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don't give him the excuse he's looking for." The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts.
