Florida Immigration Lawyer Blog
Over the past weekend, Los Angeles was rocked by riots and protests sparked by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. What began as peaceful demonstrations against aggressive immigration enforcement escalated into violent unrest– looting, burning cars, throwing bricks at squad vehicles, and even riding a motorcycle into a line of officers. By Sunday night, Los Angeles police declared all of downtown an unlawful assembly area, ordering protesters to disperse after three days of demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
In response to the turmoil, President Trump made the extraordinary decision to “federalize” the California National Guard and deploy troops in Los Angeles. This move came over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned the federal intervention as overreach. Nevertheless, on June 7, President Trump issued an executive memorandum calling National Guard units into federal service under 10 U.S.C. §12406, citing the wave of violent protests as “a form of rebellion against the authority of the United States.” By Sunday, 2,000 National Guard personnel were ordered to assist the LA police department, however many seem to question if this move is what turned the LA ICE protests into full blown riots. Further fueling the unrest, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deployed 700 marines to aid the national guard in their protection of federal buildings early Tuesday (June 10th) morning.
Federal vs. State Authority: Was This a Legal Move?