Newsom files lawsuit against Trump for guard deployment
LOS ANGELES, June 9: California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue President Donald Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the state’s consent, calling the action illegal and a breach of state sovereignty.
Newsom condemned the federal government’s unilateral decision to send the Guard without consulting him, describing it as both unlawful and immoral.
The deployment came amid several days of protests against Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The demonstrations began Friday after federal agents conducted immigration raids in Los Angeles, including the fashion district and Home Depot parking lots.
Protesters, many from immigrant communities, expressed outrage over the raids.
The protests quickly spread to nearby cities such as Paramount and Compton, which have large Latino populations.
Tensions escalated over the weekend, especially after about 300 National Guard troops were deployed to protect federal buildings, including a downtown detention center where protesters gathered.
Their presence fueled anger and fear among many residents. Protesters blocked the 101 Freeway, threw rocks, fireworks, and other objects at police, and set at least four self-driving Waymo cars on fire, producing thick smoke.
Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowds.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly and made dozens of arrests, including individuals accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and ramming motorcycles into police lines.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell admitted officers were overwhelmed by the scale and intensity of the protests but pushed back on claims from the Trump administration that local police failed to support federal agents.
McDonnell said his department had not been informed of the federal raids ahead of time and responded as quickly as possible once protests broke out.
Newsom, who was in Los Angeles meeting with officials, criticized Trump for escalating the situation unnecessarily.
He accused the president of instigating violence to justify a harsh crackdown and urged protesters to stay peaceful, warning that violence would only serve Trump’s political agenda.
Newsom mocked Trump for prematurely tweeting about the Guard deployment before the troops arrived and called him a “stone cold liar” for denying prior discussions about the deployment.
President Trump responded by demanding tougher law enforcement, calling for the arrest of masked protesters and saying violent individuals would not be tolerated.
He invoked a federal law allowing deployment of troops during rebellion or threats against U.S. authority.
The White House defended the Guard’s presence, saying it was necessary to restore order.
This deployment marks a rare federal intrusion into state authority, the last instance occurring in 1965 during civil rights protests.
The legal dispute highlights ongoing tensions between California and the federal government over immigration enforcement, state rights, and responses to civil unrest. (AP)