USA President Donald Trump has made a significant decision amidst escalating tensions in Los Angeles, deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to the city. This move comes despite objections from state governor Gavin Newsom and follows clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities.
The situation unfolded dramatically over two days, with confrontations erupting near a Home Depot in Paramount, just south of Los Angeles. Federal agents equipped with riot gear found themselves entangled in clashes with protestors as tensions soared. Tear gas, flash-bang explosives, pepper balls were deployed by the authorities while protesters retaliated by hurling rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles.
In the aftermath of these clashes across various parts of Los Angeles, including the fashion district, over 100 immigrant arrests were reported within one week. Among those caught up in the chaos was a prominent union leader who was arrested for impeding law enforcement during protests.
The White House defended Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops as a means to curb what they described as “lawlessness.
” The exact timeline for the arrival of these troops remains unclear at this point. Governor Newsom condemned Trump’s actions as “
purposefully inflammatory,” fearing that it would only serve to exacerbate an already volatile situation.
As tensions continued to escalate following Trump’s deployment order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning indicating further escalation if violence persisted. The threat included mobilizing active-duty Marines based at Camp Pendleton, underscoring the administration’s firm stance on restoring order.
This is not the first instance where Trump has called upon the National Guard; he previously took similar action during civil unrest following George Floyd’s tragic death in Minneapolis last year. However, his threats to invoke the Insurrection Act back then did not materialize due to pushback from Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The recent wave of protests kicked off after 44 individuals were arrested for immigration violations on Friday alone. Subsequent operations resulted in more arrests, including individuals associated with criminal organizations or prior criminal records. David Huerta, a notable figure arrested during protests, found himself held at the Metropolitan Detention Center pending legal proceedings.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns over these arrests involving American citizens exercising their right to free speech and urged Huerta’s immediate release citing a disturbing pattern emerging from such incidents.
As tensions continue to simmer on the streets of Los Angeles amid political maneuverings and law enforcement interventions, all eyes are on how this high-stakes standoff will unfold next.
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