Donald Trump sends in National Guard, puts Marine on standby to handle LA riots
Donald Trump has sent 2000 National Guardsmen on the streets of LA to quell riots over immigration raids - drawing criticism that his heavy-handed approach risks escalating tensions.
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Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed across Los Angeles as the strife-torn city braces for another day of immigration protests.
President Donald Trump made the extraordinary decision to deploy the National Guard in an attempt to quell a violent uprising by Californians opposed to sweeping immigration raids taking place across the city.
It came as President Trump said he was banning protesters from wearing masks, asking what they had to hide.
“These radical left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will not be tolerated,” he wrote on Truth Social just before 3am Sunday local time.
“Also, from now on, masks will not be allowed to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why? Again, thank you to the National Guard for a job well done!”
Mr Trump on Sunday appeared to leave the door open to deploying soldiers in other cities.
Before heading to the Presidential country retreat Camp David, he told reporters: “We’re going to have troops everywhere.”
“We’re not going to let this happen to our country,” he said.
Around noon Sunday the California National Guard said 300 soldiers were on the ground “conducting safety and protection of federal property and personnel”.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in addition to the 2000 National Guardsmen being deployed, Marines stationed in Southern California were on high alert and could also be mobilised.
The decision was blasted by California’s Governor Gavin Newsom who described the National Guard deployment as “intentionally inflammatory” and warned the heavy-handed approach risked escalating tensions.
“The Secretary of Defence is now threatening to deploy active duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens,” Governor Newsom wrote.
“This is deranged behaviour.”
He also criticised the president’s praise of a job well done by the National Guard, saying none were on the ground when he made the comment.
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TEARGAS USED ON PROTESTERS
Protesters gathered outside an LA immigration detention centre have been fired on with teargas canisters by law enforcement officers guarding the building.
Local police reported Sunday’s protests had been relatively peaceful compared to the violent scenes that unfolded Saturday.
Mr Trump said he had directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi to take “all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the migrant invasion and put an end to these migrant riots”.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals,’ he said.
“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our federal agents to try and stop our deportation operations - but these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.
“Order will be restored, the illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”
DOZENS ARRESTED
Shocking images emerged of Los Angeles in recent days as protesters clashed with law enforcement.
Officers in riot gear used flash bang grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas to drive back angry mobs who pelted law enforcement with rocks and chunks of concrete.
The riots began on Friday after a series of immigration raids across the city.
Dozens of people have been arrested.
“We’re going to continue doing our job. We’re going to push back on these people and we’re going to enforce the law,” Tom Homan, Acting Director of US Immigration and Custom Enforcement, said on Fox News.
Mr Trump lashed Californian leaders over their handling of the chaotic protests, referring to long-time rival Governor Gavin Newsom as “Newscum”.
The president made the comments ahead of a scheduled appearance at a UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship match in New Jersey.
The White House issued a statement warning those participating in the aggression against federal officers “carrying out basic deportation operations” would be “arrested and swiftly brought to justice”.
“These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
“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 2000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behaviour and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs.”
Images and video showed a chaotic scene as hundreds of protesters filled the streets and clashed with federal agents in riot gear attempting to impede apprehensions by Border Patrol in Paramount, California, near a Home Depot hardware store.
The dystopian scene showed the heavily armoured agents firing teargas canisters in order to disperse demonstrators who raged for hours in a messy and tumultuous street takeover.
One violent protester in a face-covering helmet hurled rocks at the windows of cars right outside the super store — cracking some Border Patrol pick-up trucks in the windshield, according to viral video.
Video circulating online showed an American flag on a fire in the middle of the street across from the home improvement store which was mired by demonstrators, Saturday.
Other protesters during the day stood in front of a federal bus to stop in from carrying off alleged illegal immigrants, video on social media showed.
PROTESTS BEGAN AFTER RAID ON LA FASHION HUB
Violent protests began when federal agents raided multiple workplaces in LA’s fashion district and other locations on Saturday, with the conflagrations continuing at the Paramount Home Depot, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
The Trump administration ripped into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after a violent mob swarmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducting immigration raids in the city — while the Department of Homeland Security claimed local cops waited two hours to help push back the agitators when the trouble started.
Lefty pols like Bass are “villainis[ing] and demonis[ing ] ICE law enforcement,” leading to the violence that saw roughly 1000 agitators attack law enforcement officers, deface buildings, slash tires and committing other crimes, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
“The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable, and Mayor Bass and (California) Governor Newsom must call for it to end,” she added in a statement Saturday.
“The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.”
There’s been a 413 per cent increase in assaults on ICE agents since President Trump took office in January, compared to the same period last year, McLaughlin said.
Images released by DHS Saturday show parts of downtown Los Angeles covered in vulgar graffiti, including “F*** ICE” and “KILL ICE” spray-painted on fences and buildings – as well as a flyer handed out by the Communist group RefuseFascism.org saying “The Trump Fascist Regime MUST GO NOW!!!”
Helmeted LAPD cops in riot gear faced off Friday evening with protesters after a day of federal immigration raids in the city. At least 44 people were arrested.
The Los Angeles Police Department did not return messages.
‘DEEPLY TROUBLING’: NYC MAYOR REACTS
New York Mayoral candidate and former-governor Andrew Cuomo weighed in on the ICE raids and the protests in both Los Angeles and New York.
“The recent ICE crackdowns in Los Angeles and New York City are a deeply troubling escalation in immigration enforcement tactics that undermine community trust and the principles of due process,” Mr Cuomo said in a statement.
“I believe in upholding the rule of law and maintaining secure borders, but these operations — marked by military-style raids, the use of flash-bang grenades, and the detention of individuals, including those attempting to document the events — cross a line into cruelty and unnecessary fear mongering,” Mr Cuomo said in the statement.
Hundreds of migrants, including children, were detained by ICE agents Friday, the ACLU said.
The DHS, however, said operations in LA this week have resulted in the arrest of 118 illegal migrants – including five gang members and others with past criminal charges that include drug trafficking, assault, cruelty to children and robbery, according to the DHS.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned “rioters” of prosecution if they “lay a hand” on authorities, while FBI Director Kash Patel responded to comments from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass saying the city “will not stand” for the raids.
“We will,” Mr Patel said.
Originally published as Donald Trump sends in National Guard, puts Marine on standby to handle LA riots
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