President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops to control ongoing protests and restore peace and order in Los Angeles, California’s largest city. The protests in Los Angeles began after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids and arrested a large number of people. According to reports, 44 people were arrested in the latest raids under this operation, on suspicion of illegally immigrating to the US and living without valid documentation. The protests demanding their release turned violent when police began using force to disperse the demonstrations.
The White House announced that Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard troops after determining that Los Angeles civil authorities were unable to control the unrest and disperse the protests. The National Guard is a military force under state control, but the federal government has the power to command it in emergencies. The White House said Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to restore peace and order in Los Angeles. Defense Secretary Pete Hagset has warned that if the National Guard fails to control the unrest in Los Angeles, military troops will be sent. He said troops at nearby Camp Pendleton have been put on alert.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed concern about this. Newsom, a member of the opposition Democratic Party, said Trump decided to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles with the intention of further inflaming and worsening the situation. He said the decision to deploy National Guard troops was not due to police inability to control protests, but a decision made to create drama. “Don’t give them that opportunity. Don’t engage in unrest under any circumstances. Express your opinions peacefully,” he urged.
As protests and unrest in Los Angeles continued for a second day, police have been using force to disperse the demonstrations. Protesters have also been confronting police and attacking with objects like stones and bottles. In some cases, protesters have used fireworks as weapons and set fire to vehicles, causing significant damage, according to reports.
The White House said protesters in Los Angeles were attacking ICE and other federal agency agents. “These [ICE] operations are essential to stop illegal immigrants. The useless Democratic leaders in California have abandoned their responsibility to protect the public,” a White House statement said. The White House has ordered ICE to arrest and deport 3,000 people daily who are living in the US illegally without valid documentation.
