President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen to the Los Angeles area on Saturday as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rattle the city.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move is a result of “violent mobs” attacking “Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations” in recent days.
“These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” she wrote.
Trump said California Democrats Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were to blame for the unrest that began as a result of ICE raids.
Los Angeles police have not responded to rowdy demonstrations where protestors have vandalized cars and property, according to administration officials. LAPD confirmed they were not involved.
“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!!!” Trump wrote in a Saturday Truth Social post.
However, Newsom said the federal response is “inflammatory” and said deploying soldiers “will erode public trust.”
“LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice,” Newsom wrote in a Saturday X post.
“We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need,” he added.
A group of over 800 assembled to address their outrage following Friday’s raids. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said demonstrations have spread across the country, leading to several arrests in Los Angeles County and 5 in New York City this week, according to NewsNation reporting.
“Outside a federal law enforcement building in New York City, more than 150 rioters erupted to interfere with ICE’s immigration enforcement operations,” DHS wrote on X.
“Thankfully, unlike in Los Angeles, the local police department quickly responded to the riots. So far, NYPD [New York Police Department] has made five arrests,” the post read, adding that those who touch law enforcement officers will be prosecuted.
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Updated at 9:32 p.m. EDT.