Amidst escalating protests in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops, as confirmed by the Department of Defence. The purpose of this deployment is to support ICE and federal law enforcement agencies. This latest order follows a previous directive for a similar number of troops issued on Saturday in response to protests related to immigration arrests. Sean Parnell, the Assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs, stated on X that the new troops are being mobilized to assist federal law enforcement. The timing of this deployment coincides with a lawsuit filed by California against the Trump administration, which challenges the legality of these troop deployments. A White House spokesperson responded to California’s legal action, accusing Governor Gavin Newsom of prioritizing political face-saving over the safety of law enforcement and the prosecution of criminals. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has condemned the federalization of the state’s National Guard, deeming it “unnecessary, counterproductive, and unlawful.” Bonta argues that Trump’s actions violate federal law and the 10th Amendment, and were taken without the authorization of Governor Newsom or the support of local law enforcement. Governor Newsom has accused Trump of using the National Guard to incite fear and undermine the US Constitution. The protests in Los Angeles were sparked by ICE raids that led to the detention of numerous undocumented immigrants.
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