LA Protests: Live News Updates on Immigration Crisis
The deployment of National Guard troops has been met with opposition from California officials, who argue it's unlawful and will inflame tensions. The administration has signaled that arresting Newsom is not currently in the cards, but officials say anyone who breaks federal law puts themselves at risk of being arrested. The protests have sparked a heated debate about immigration policy and the role of law enforcement in managing public demonstrations.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is opposing the deployment of 700 Marines in Los Angeles to quell immigration protests, citing concerns about a lack of coordination and potential differences in approach between the Marines and local law enforcement. The LAPD has decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstrations and is confident in its ability to do so professionally and effectively.
The Trump administration has justified the deployment by arguing that local authorities are failing to ensure the safety of law enforcement officials and federal property. However, the deployment of Marines without clear coordination with local authorities has raised concerns about the potential for escalation and the violation of the First Amendment rights of peaceful protesters. California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to end the "illegal takeover" of the National Guard.
Violence erupted during immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles, diverting attention from the focus of the demonstrations: large-scale immigration sweeps in predominantly Latino cities. The LAPD arrested 50 people over the weekend, including a man accused of ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers and another suspect who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the unrest was not caused by protesters, but by masked "anarchists" who were exploiting the situation to vandalize property and attack police.
The situation has raised questions about the necessity of the Marine deployment and the potential for a constitutional crisis. The administration's response to the protests seems to have one eye on the reaction in conservative media, with some influencers posting from the protests. The fight over Los Angeles has become a nationally watched saga, with Democrats and immigration activists calling it illegal and inhumane.