They reacted quickly to the flare-up in Los Angeles that exploded over an immigration enforcement raid. The unrest, characterized by violence and clashes over two days, has prompted discussions about the potential deployment of federal troops. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said deployment of the National Guard troops is still underway. As of now, they’ve not yet made it to the city.
When protests turned violent, raising the stakes considerably. In Paramount, this led to a single arrest and rumors of a vehicle being set on fire outside of a regional strip mall. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department confirmed the arrest related to the demonstrations, which sparked a broader conversation about law enforcement’s response to civil unrest.
Answering March 13, 2020, President Trump announced that he directed the National Guard to mobilize federally. This latter decision provisions putting the troops under federal command, but stipulates that orders be funneled through the state governors. We don’t yet know how California Governor Gavin Newsom will react to this surprising, momentous decision. He voiced his opposition to the possible situation of National Guard troops being sent in and labeled the proposal of sending U.S. Marines into the city as “deranged.”
Despite these tensions, President Trump thanked Governor Newsom for his support, even as Newsom criticized the administration’s approach. His statement follows a growing and understandable public outcry over the state’s handling of protests and public safety. As many as 2,000 troops might be stationed in Los Angeles as part of this new federal undertaking.
In a statement reflecting his frustration with local leadership, President Trump remarked, “What do these people have to hide, and why???” He pointed to similar faults – each one listed in striking detail – with Newsom and with Mayor Bass. Their handling of the protests and their long-term public safety strategy became a flashpoint.
In direct response to that unrest, Mayor Bass took all of these actions. She commended the Los Angeles Police Department and other local law enforcement organizations on their direct and correct responses amid overwhelming circumstances. To complement the order necessitated by the protests, she stressed that authorities must focus on the root causes in order to end them.
Deployment conversations seem inextricably tied to the March protests that followed the deployment of an immigration enforcement sting. Opponents of the initiative say it has an outsize effect on at-risk communities. The protests are part of a much larger, national movement against the administration’s immigration policy and attacks on civil rights.
As the situation continues to develop in Los Angeles, their state and federal leaders are doing everything they can to keep the public safe. They are working to listen to the concerns of demonstrators, too. The prospect of the use of federal paramilitary troops oozes a toxic acidity onto an already volatile situation.