Public Unrest in Los Angeles

I've established that National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles on June 8, 2025, by President Trump, in direct opposition to California Governor Gavin Newsom's wishes. This deployment, involving approximately 300 troops, was a response to protests stemming from immigration raids. The troops were primarily tasked with protecting federal agents and property, not conducting immigration raids or general law enforcement against civilians.



The Core Conflict: State vs. Federal Authority
A significant new insight is the specific legal basis for this deployment: President Trump invoked 10 U.S.C. § 12406, which allows the President to federalize the National Guard under circumstances such as invasion, rebellion, or inability to execute laws with regular forces. This is distinct from the Insurrection Act, which grants broader law enforcement powers.

This marks the first time since 1965 that the National Guard has been activated without the state governor's consent, highlighting a rare and contentious exercise of federal power over state sovereignty. Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have consistently labeled this action as 'unlawful' and 'inflammatory,' arguing that local authorities had the situation under control and that the federal intervention was designed to provoke rather than assist.



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