As anti-ICE protesters continue a third day of demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles, clashing with local and federal law enforcement, Govenor Gavin Newsom is pleading with the U.S. Department of Defense to rescind Trump’s order to federalize California’s National Guard.
“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind the unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command,” Newsom said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
President Donald Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops to be deployed Saturday night after a raid in Paramount earlier in the day that set off a chain of destructive demonstrations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, however, said just after midnight Sunday that the National Guard had not been deployed in the city.
Military personnel began arriving at the Federal Building downtown around 4 a.m. Sunday to ensure that federal agents are protected. More have been deployed to the Hall of Justice, next to City Hall.
There have also been reports that the president has put U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton on “high alert” and could be deployed to L.A.
While L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has called for demonstrators to remain peaceful, she stated on X that federalizing on the heels of ICE raids “is a chaotic escalation.”
In his statement, Newsom echoed the sentiment.
“We didn’t have any problem until Trump got involved,” he said. “This is a breach of state sovereignty – inflames tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
