On Friday, a series of raids on local businesses by federal immigration authorities prompted a wave of protests across Los Angeles that have continued across the region in the following days. The Los Angeles Times reports that at least 44 people were “administratively arrested” by agents that day with one additional arrest for obstruction. Protesters then gathered at the sites of the raids as well as the downtown federal building and detention center housing some of those arrested, prompting standoffs between them and law enforcement. David Huerta, the president of SEIU California, was arrested Friday while observing one of the raids and remains in custody.
Though the vast majority of the protests have been peaceful, clashes have sparked between protesters and authorities throughout the weekend, with reports of officers deploying tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators as well as instances of protesters throwing rocks and other objects at law enforcement. In addition, several Waymo cars, the self-driving vehicles that are a frequent sight in L.A., were also set on fire as protesters took to the 101 freeway on Sunday.
In response to the protests, President Trump mobilized 2,000 members of the National Guard to Los Angeles over the objections of California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass. To justify the deployment, Trump made a legal leap by citing a section of U.S. code that allows the president to federalize the National Guard in the event of foreign invasion or when “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States,” or when “the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
He also attempted to paint the local Democratic leadership as inadequate in the crisis.
“If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!,” he wrote Saturday night on Truth Social.
Also on Saturday, Trump “border czar” Tom Homan threatened to arrest anyone, including Bass and Newsom, if they obstruct ICE operations. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job,” Homan said.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Trump vowed “justice” for any “officials who stand in the way of law and order.”
During a Sunday night MSNBC interview, Newsom effectively dared Homan to go through with it. “He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that?” the governor said. “He knows where to find me. That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
Source link
