Los Angeles, CA [US], June 9 (ANI): President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to suppress ongoing immigration-related protests, overriding objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom in a highly unusual move.
According to CNN, this invocation of presidential power without the governor’s consent is “extremely rare” and marks a significant escalation in federal intervention.
The deployment follows a wave of protests sparked by federal immigration raids that led to the arrest of at least 44 individuals. Law enforcement used tear gas and flashbang grenades to disperse demonstrators over the weekend.
President Trump accused local officials of failing to control the unrest, posting on Truth Social that he would “solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
Trump signed a presidential memorandum activating the National Guard under Title 10 of the United States Code. This directive places the troops under direct federal command, bypassing the state governor entirely.
This marks the first time a U.S. president has federalized National Guard troops since the 1992 Los Angeles riots. However, unlike that instance, Trump’s deployment has been executed without the state’s consent.
Governor Newsom condemned the move as “purposefully inflammatory,” warning that it would escalate tensions and undermine public trust.
Approximately 300 National Guard troops had arrived in Los Angeles as of Sunday evening, although Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated the troops had not yet been deployed within city limits.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) denounced Trump’s order as a disturbing escalation. Democratic Representative Nanette Barragán emphasized that California did not request federal support and warned that the deployment would worsen the situation on the ground.
Over the weekend, protesters blocked freeways and major streets across Los Angeles, severely disrupting traffic. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared the demonstrations unlawful and made several arrests as they worked to reopen thoroughfares.
According to CNN, experts say this kind of federal deployment without a governor’s request is without modern precedent. The last comparable instance occurred in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed troops to protect civil rights demonstrators in Alabama.
CNN also quoted Juliette Kayyem, a senior national security analyst, who described Trump’s actions as an “extreme overreaction” and “not rational given the threat.” She cautioned that deploying troops trained for combat rather than de-escalation, especially without clear rules of engagement, could increase the risk of violence.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the National Guard was tasked with maintaining peace. When asked about rules of engagement, Trump simply responded, “We’ll see what happens.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added that active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton could be mobilized if the unrest continues.
The deployment comes amid heightened tensions between Trump and Governor Newsom, with the president recently threatening to cut federal funding to California over longstanding policy disputes. Newsom accused the administration of manufacturing a crisis for political purposes.
Human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the federal response, calling the deployment “dangerous” and accusing the Trump administration of targeting those defending civil liberties. The group warned the move could crush dissent and further inflame tensions nationwide.
(ANI)
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