Latest news with #InsurrectionActof1807
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Donald Trump's LA crackdown: Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed; protesters flood streets
Federal troops are now patrolling parts of Los Angeles after President Donald Trump authorised the deployment of the National Guard, declaring that 'violent, insurrectionist mobs' were attacking federal agents in an effort to halt ongoing deportation operations. The move has sparked fierce political backlash and led to violent confrontations in the streets. 'This is a migrant invasion,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, accusing protesters of trying to obstruct federal law enforcement. 'These lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.' The President confirmed he had ordered Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi to do 'all such action necessary' to secure Los Angeles and continue deportations. Despite the escalating situation, Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, though he has hinted he may consider broader military intervention if unrest spreads. 'We're not going to let this happen to our country,' he told reporters. 'We're going to have troops everywhere.' California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the deployment as a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and urged federal officials to withdraw the Guard immediately. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Clashes erupt outside federal detention centre Tensions boiled over on Sunday in downtown Los Angeles as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where detainees from recent immigration raids were being held. Protesters chanted 'shame' and 'go home' at National Guard troops stationed outside, while law enforcement fired tear gas, smoke canisters and rubber bullets to clear the streets. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the demonstration an 'unlawful assembly' and authorised the use of 'less lethal munitions' to disperse the crowd. Protesters later blocked traffic on the 101 freeway in response. A helicopter circling above the protest issued warnings to disperse, while social media updates from LAPD Central Division warned that anyone remaining risked arrest. Governor Newsom decries 'inflammatory' federal action Governor Newsom has requested the return of control over the Guard, arguing in a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that local authorities were better positioned to manage the situation. 'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom said. 'The decision to deploy the National Guard without appropriate training or orders risks seriously escalating the situation.' He also accused the administration of trying to 'inflame tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed.' Several Democratic governors issued a joint statement condemning Trump's move as 'an alarming abuse of power,' echoing Newsom's call to restore local authority. Federal agents and Guard confront protesters in Paramount Clashes also occurred on Saturday in Paramount, a predominantly Latino city south of Los Angeles, as protesters confronted agents near ICE offices. Demonstrators reportedly threw rocks and cement chunks at law enforcement vehicles. A federal officer was injured, and the FBI has offered a \$50,000 reward for information on the suspect. In response, federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls and flash-bangs to disperse the crowd. Trump threatens wider crackdown Trump told reporters that California officials who attempt to block deportations could face criminal charges. 'If officials stay in the way of law and order, yeah, they will face charges,' he said. The President also suggested the deployment of additional troops, including active-duty Marines, if violence continues. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed this stance, warning of further escalation if the unrest persists. Divided political response The deployment has sharply divided political leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the President's move, blaming Newsom for failing to control protests. 'Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or an unwillingness to do what is necessary, so the president stepped in,' he said. By contrast, Senator Bernie Sanders accused Trump of 'moving this country rapidly into authoritarianism' and warned of an erosion of Congressional authority. Mexican President defends migrants Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a strong defence of her citizens living in the US, saying, 'They migrate out of necessity… they are not criminals.' She promised support to any migrants wishing to return home and insisted that 'human rights must always be respected.'
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
The National Guard comes to Los Angeles: What's going to happen? Is it legal?
The Trump administration says it will send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after two days of isolated clashes between federal immigration agents and protesters. Officials say the Guard will assist in operations related to Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Many questions remain unanswered, but here is what we know: Officials said the troops were arriving in L.A. as soon as Saturday night, though it was unclear when the full 2,000 personnel would be in place. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on X that the Guard was being deployed 'immediately to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert.' Tom Homan, the Trump administration's 'border czar,' said on Fox News that officials were trying to 'address violence and destruction occurring near raid locations where demonstrators are gathering. ... American people, this is about enforcing the law, and again, we're not going to apologize for doing it.' It is possible they will provide backup during future immigration raids and prove protection of some federal facilities, including a detention center in downtown L.A. has was the scene of protests and some vandalism; California Gov. Gavin Newsom sid local law enforcement was already mobilized and that sending in troops was a move that was 'purposefully inflammatory' and would 'only escalate tensions.' '[T]here is currently no unmet need,' Newsom said. Trump said in a memo to the Defense and Homeland Security departments that he was calling the National Guard into federal service under a provision called Title 10 to 'temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.' Title 10 provides for activating National Guard troops for federal service. Such Title 10 orders can be used for deploying National Guard members in the United States or abroad. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, said in a text to The Times that Trump has the authority under the Insurrection Act of 1807 to federalize the National Guard units of states to suppress 'any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy' that 'so hinders the execution of the laws.' Yes, the National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles numerous times amid civil unrest and natural disaster. Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School, noted that when the National Guard was sent to L.A. before, it was because California requested it and the response was coordinated.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
2,000 National Guard troops will be sent to LA amid clashes over immigration raids
LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration said it would send 2,000 National Guard troops into Los Angeles after a second day in which protesters confronted immigration agents during raids of local businesses. The move marks a major escalation in Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration and came amid concerns from some officials in California. The Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles previously, but it has been during widespread civil unrest, including the upheaval associated with the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, as well as the riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. Los Angeles has seen several violent clashes during the recent immigration raids, but they have been limited to isolated areas including the Home Depot in Paramount, a location in L.A.'s fashion district and at the Civic Center. Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School, noted that when the National Guard was sent to L.A. before, it was because we as a state requested it and it was coordinated. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley Law School, said in a text to the Los Angeles Times that Trump has the authority under the Insurrection Act of 1807 to federalize the national guard units of states to suppress 'any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy' that 'so hinders the execution of the laws.' But he called the move very troubling. Such deployment typically happen during 'extreme circumstances... here it seems it was an early response. And I fear that it is to send a message to protesters of the willingness of the federal government to use federal troops to quell protests.' In the most serious incident, a crowd gathered in Paramount in a protest that escalated over the course of the day into a fiery and tumultuous clash with federal agents. By afternoon, the confrontation near a Home Depot at 6400 Alondra Blvd. was declared an unlawful assembly, and officials warned protesters in Spanish and English to quit the scene immediately. During the protest, at least one protester was injured, witnesses reported, and a Border Patrol official said an agent was hurt. Meanwhile, Tom Homan, the Trump administration's 'border czar,' said officials were cracking down hard on the unrest and that the National Guard would be deployed to the city Saturday night. California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed Saturday that the federal government was moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. Newsom criticized the federal action in a statement Saturday evening, saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and that sending in troops was a move that was 'purposefully inflammatory' and would 'only escalate tensions.' '(T)here is currently no unmet need,' Newsom said. 'This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.' At the Paramount protest, chants of 'Fuera ICE' — ICE, get out — could be heard as flash-bang grenades deployed by federal agents lighted up the scene. The agents appeared to include members of Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations. A group of protesters on a street corner shouted expletives and that there was 'nothing but noise.' Shortly afterward, the grenades exploded at their feet, causing them to briefly scatter. A Los Angeles Times reporter watched one protester gather a bag of trash and light it on fire in the middle of Alondra Boulevard, half a block from where immigration agents were gathered. 'This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County. Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning. We've been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward,' L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said after the National Guard deployment was announced. Saturday's scene in Paramount followed raids across Los Angeles on Friday that led to the arrests of 44 people on suspicion of immigration violations, and another on suspicion of obstructing justice. 'Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said on X as the standoff unfolded. 'I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions. Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.' In his Fox News interview, Homan, the president's former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director and now 'border czar,' made unsubstantiated claims about the people who had been arrested, saying they included child sex offenders, gang members and national security threats. 'They arrested a lot of bad people yesterday and today,' Homan said. 'We're making Los Angeles safer and Mayor (Karen) Bass ought to be thanking us for making her city safer.' Homan also remarked that ICE agents were often wearing masks as they conducted raids because they were worried about their families being doxxed. In Paramount, a city that is 82% Latino, protesters gathered along Alondra Boulevard Saturday after reports that ICE officers were targeting people at a Home Depot where day laborers commonly gather in search of work. A group of protesters stationed themselves near the Alondra exit of the 710 Freeway, as a second gathered by the Home Depot. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene about 11 a.m. The department clarified in a statement that it 'was not involved in any federal law enforcement operations or actions,' and was present only to assist with traffic and crowd control. By Saturday afternoon, bright orange shopping carts from Home Depot and a blue recycling bin were scattered across the boulevard. The air was acrid with smoke. Federal agents deployed round after round of flash-bangs and pepper balls. Some of the projectiles struck protesters, witnesses said. One woman among the protest group appeared to be bleeding, and another man was treated for injuries. 'There were some individuals around him throwing bricks. One of the windows got shattered and he was knocked unconscious. He seemed in a pretty bad state,' said Nico Thompson-Lleras, an attorney with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights who witnessed the incident. He said it was unclear whether the man was hit by a vehicle, a weapon or something else. Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons, who was present at the scene, said she had not learned of any arrests at the Home Depot. She said the confrontation appeared to have started after protesters spotted immigration officers staging in a nearby business plaza where DHS has an office. She encouraged the crowd to stay calm to avoid violence. She said she was told that the Department of Homeland Security was targeting Home Depots across the county in search of undocumented residents. But she has had little communication from federal authorities about their actions in the city she represents, which is about 4.5 square miles and home to about 57,000 people. 'We don't know what was happening, or what their target was. To think that there would be no heightening of fear and no consequences from the community doesn't sound like good preparation to me,' she said. 'Above all, there is no communication and things are done on a whim. And that creates chaos and fear.' The city of Paramount released a statement reaffirming it was not working with ICE or assisting the immigration operations in any way. 'As a city, we are committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community — regardless of immigration status,' the statement read. There was no raid at the Paramount Home Depot on Saturday, a federal official told The Times. Helicopter footage from the scene showed law enforcement vehicles blocking access as they closed the road. Border Patrol agents stood lined up. Sheriff's deputies set off flash-bangs to clear a freeway exit of protesters. A U.S. Marshals Service bus approaching the location was surrounded by a crowd as it exited the freeway. Protesters kicked the vehicle and pushed back in an attempt to stop it, before another federal vehicle pulled up alongside the bus. An agent appeared to shoot tear gas to push the crowd back. Lindsay Toczylowski, chief executive of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said in a post on X that ICE agents threw a teargas canister at two female attorneys with the organization, after they approached to ask calmly that they be allowed to see a warrant and observe the action. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident. 'ICE has brought their terror tactics and masked agents to#Paramount this morning - in my district,' wrote U.S. Rep Nanette D. Barragán, whose district includes Paramount, in a post on X. 'This is unacceptable. We will demand answers and accountability. For those out there - please stay safe, protest peacefully, and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.' Protesters burned an American flag while others waved Mexican flags. Some began lining the boulevard with large cement bricks. One immigration agent was cut on his hand from a rock that sailed through his windshield, according to a social media post by U.S. Border Patrol chief Michael W. Banks. Federal officials struck an ominous tone. 'Multiple arrests have already been made for obstructing our operations,' FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X. 'More are coming. We are pouring through the videos for more perpetrators. You bring chaos, and we'll bring handcuffs.' José Luis Solache Jr., the California Assembly member who represents the Paramount area that includes the Home Depot, said he was on the way to a community event when he saw Border Patrol cars exit the freeway. He decided to turn around. Solache said he arrived and began observing alongside other demonstrators in a peaceful effort when the agents started shooting off canisters in their direction, forcing him and others to run through the smoke. After identifying himself to agents, he tried to get information about what they were doing, but they would not answer his questions, he said. 'You see the community here, demonstrating that they don't want them here,' he said as flash-bangs went off nearby. 'Our hardworking communities are being targeted. These are hardworking families. These are not criminals. You're going to facilities where people are literally working.' Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
The legal issues raised by Trump sending the National Guard to L.A.
The Trump administration announced Saturday that National Guard troops were being sent to Los Angeles — an action Gov. Gavin Newsom said he opposed. President Trump is activating the Guard by using powers that have been invoked only rarely. Trump said in a memo to the Defense and Homeland Security departments that he was calling the National Guard into federal service under a provision called Title 10 to 'temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.' Title 10 provides for activating National Guard troops for federal service. Such Title 10 orders can be used for deploying National Guard members in the United States or abroad. Erwin Chemerinsky, one of the nation's leading constitutional law scholars, said 'for the federal government to take over the California National Guard, without the request of the governor, to put down protests is truly chilling.' 'It is using the military domestically to stop dissent,' said Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. 'It certainly sends a message as to how this administration is going to respond to protests. It is very frightening to see this done.' Tom Homan, the Trump administration's 'border czar,' announced the plan to send the National Guard in an interview on Fox News on Saturday as protesters continued confronting immigration agents during raids. 'This is about enforcing the law,' Homan said. 'We're not going to apologize for doing it. We're stepping up.' 'We're already ahead of the game. We were already mobilizing,' he added. 'We're gonna bring the National Guard in tonight. We're gonna continue doing our job. We're gonna push back on these people.' Newsom criticized the federal action, saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and that sending in troops was a move that was 'purposefully inflammatory' and would 'only escalate tensions.' The governor called the president and they spoke for about 40 minutes, according to the governor's office. Critics have raised concerns that Trump also might try to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to activate troops as part of his campaign to deport large numbers of undocumented immigrants. The president has the authority under the Insurrection Act to federalize the National Guard units of states to suppress 'any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy' that 'so hinders the execution of the laws' that any portion of the state's inhabitants are deprived of a constitutional right and state authorities are unable or unwilling to protect that right. The American Civil Liberties Union has warned that Trump's use of the military domestically would be misguided and dangerous. According to the ACLU, Title 10 activation of National Guard troops has historically been rare and Congress has prohibited troops deployed under the law from providing 'direct assistance' to civilian law enforcement — under both a separate provision of Title 10 as well as the Posse Comitatus Act. The Insurrection Act, however, is viewed as an exception to the prohibitions under the Posse Comitatus Act. In 1958, President Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Arkansas to enforce the Supreme Court's decision ending racial segregation in schools, and to defend Black students against a violent mob. Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU's National Security Project, wrote in a recent article that if Trump were to invoke the Insurrection Act 'to activate federalized troops for mass deportation — whether at the border or somewhere else in the country — it would be unprecedented, unnecessary, and wrong.' Chemerinsky said invoking the Insurrection Act and nationalizing a state's National Guard has been reserved for extreme circumstances where there are no other alternatives to maintain the peace. Chemerinsky said he feared that in this case the Trump administration was seeking 'to send a message to protesters of the willingness of the federal government to use federal troops to quell protests.' In 1992, California Gov. Pete Wilson requested that President George H.W. Bush use the National Guard to quell the unrest in Los Angeles after police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. That was under a different provision of federal law that allows the president to use military force in the United States. That provision applies if a state governor or legislature requests it. California politics editor Phil Willon contributed to this report.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
LA riots: Can President Trump deploy the National Guard? All about the Insurrection Act
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's border czar, announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to protests against ICE following immigration raids in the city. In a Fox News interview, Homan said, 'We are making Los Angeles safer. Mayor Bass should be thanking us. She says they are going to mobilize—guess what? We are already mobilizing. We are going to bring the National Guard in tonight.' California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly pushed back, calling Homan's remarks 'purposefully inflammatory.' 'The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,' Newsom wrote on X. 'LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need,' he added. 'The Guard has been admirably serving LA throughout recovery. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.' The authority to deploy the National Guard depends on whether the situation is a state or federal matter. State Authority: As the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard, Governor Gavin Newsom has the primary authority to deploy the Guard for state-level emergencies, such as natural disasters, riots, or other public safety needs. This is done under state active duty or Title 32 status, where the state retains control and typically covers the costs. For example, during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Governor Pete Wilson deployed the California National Guard to restore order. Federal Authority: The President or the Secretary of Defense can federalize the National Guard under Title 10 status for national emergencies, homeland defense, or federal missions. This shifts control to the federal government, which then funds the deployment. The President can also invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy federalized National Guard units or federal troops. This is done when state authorities are unable to manage civil unrest or if federal laws are violated. This happened in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush invoked the Insurrection Act to send federal troops to assist in Los Angeles during the riots.
