Protests ignited across Los Angeles after intensified ICE raids targeting undocumented workers sparked outrage in this sanctuary city. Following several nights of unrest, Mayor Karen Bass imposed at 8 p.m.- 6 a.m. curfew in downtown, citing looting and violence.
Despite warnings, protestors defied the curfew. The LAPD arrested 25 people within the first hour, with widespread mass arrests reported for street gatherings downtown.
On June 8, President Trump federalized the California National Guard under Title 10, bypassing Governor Newsom’s authority the first use of this power since 1965.
Deployed 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, at a cost of $134 million over 60 days.
Legal and political backlash erupted: Governor Newsom sued, calling it an “authoritarian overreach,” while critics warn the move risks normalizing the use of active-duty troops in civil matters.
Downtown L.A. remains heavily policed under curfew. Approximately 197 arrests have occurred since Tuesday night, combining curfew violations and protest-related actions. Police used horseback units, rubber bullets, and crows control measures to disperse remaining protestors.
Gavin Newsom labeled Trump’s orders a “brazen abuse of power,” and said democracy was “under assault,” reporting his intent to halt the deployment in court. Mayor Bass echoed the sentiment, accusing the federal response of stoking chaos in a city already facing violence and looting.
Similar anti-ICE demonstrations have spread to cities like Dallas, Chicago, and New York, though most remain peaceful. Also, there has been reports of journalists being injured during coverage Australia and the UK have officially issued cautionary travel advisories.
Experts warn deploying troops under Title 10, instead of the Insurrection Act, raises constitutional concerns about federalism and the militarization of law enforcement.
Observers highlight the potential for this tactic to be used as a template in future domestic conflicts. Governor Newsom’s lawsuit tests whether a president can override state-level command of the National Guard unprecedented since the civil rights era.
