Trump Defends Military Use in Immigration Crackdown \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Dozens of Los Angeles-area mayors urged President Trump to halt immigration raids that have fueled fear and protests nationwide. Trump, however, has escalated enforcement, deploying thousands of National Guard troops to support ICE operations. Legal and political clashes continue as protests spread across the U.S.
Quick Looks
- LA mayors unite against Trump’s stepped-up immigration raids
- 500+ National Guard troops aiding immigration enforcement
- LA declares nightly curfew in central downtown area
- Mayor Karen Bass warns of extended military presence
- Vice Mayor Brenda Olmos pleads for raids to stop
- Gov. Gavin Newsom sues to halt military-ICE cooperation
- Trump calls lawsuit a “crass political stunt”
- Protests erupt in Dallas, Austin, Chicago, New York
- Arrests, injuries reported nationwide during escalating protests
- Federal agents target visa overstays, asylum seekers, and detainees
Deep Look
A growing wave of protest and political pushback swept across Los Angeles and the nation this week as dozens of local mayors called on President Donald Trump to immediately stop an intensifying series of immigration raids supported by armed military personnel. Despite their pleas, the administration signaled it will continue the enforcement effort, citing national security and protest-related unrest.
At a press conference Wednesday, mayors and city council members from across the Los Angeles metro region condemned the federal raids, which have sparked mass demonstrations, curfews, and legal battles. “I’m asking you, please listen to me, stop terrorizing our residents,” said Brenda Olmos, vice mayor of Paramount, who said she was struck by rubber bullets during a weekend protest. “You need to stop these raids.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed the call, saying the city’s nightly downtown curfew — covering a 1-square-mile zone — would remain in place as long as federal troops and agents continue operations. “If there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,” Bass said.
The curfew comes as protests grow in both size and scope, triggered by immigration arrests that began Friday with workplace raids across Los Angeles. These raids reportedly targeted asylum seekers, visa overstays, and immigrants awaiting court dates. The federal crackdown quickly escalated tensions, as protesters blocked highways, torched vehicles, and clashed with police over the weekend.
More than 2,000 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed in the city, with an additional 2,000 troops and 700 Marines expected to arrive, according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the operation’s commander. Sherman confirmed that over 500 Guard members were trained specifically to assist in immigration enforcement. While some have already participated in those missions, Sherman said it’s unclear whether this will continue long-term.
“We are expecting a ramp-up,” Sherman told reporters. He later retracted a previous claim that National Guard troops had directly detained civilians during the protests, acknowledging that his comments were based on incorrect visual evidence.
The involvement of military personnel in immigration actions has alarmed lawmakers and civil rights advocates, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to file an emergency request in federal court to block the practice. A judge has scheduled a hearing for Thursday. Newsom’s suit argues that using the military to support immigration arrests undermines legal norms and endangers communities.
The Trump administration responded swiftly, labeling the lawsuit a “crass political stunt endangering American lives.” On the social media platform Truth Social, President Trump defended his decision, claiming the military prevented the city from descending into chaos. “The city would be burning to the ground if not for the troops,” he wrote.
Trump has long vowed a tough stance on immigration and said this week that state leaders must take more responsibility. “The governor should be able to handle it,” he said. “And frankly, if they can’t handle the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem backed Trump’s position, stating that FEMA and the military are working to enhance interstate coordination through mutual-aid agreements. “We’re building communication among states so they can stand on their own two feet,” she said.
However, critics note that such agreements, including the existing Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), are typically funded and coordinated through federal support. “There’s already robust communication between states,” said former FEMA official Michael Coen. “The confusion is what they can now expect from the federal government.”
Meanwhile, enforcement and protest-related actions continue across the country. Los Angeles police have detained nearly 400 people since Saturday, most for curfew violations. More serious charges include assault on officers and possession of weapons, including a Molotov cocktail. Nine officers were injured, though most suffered minor wounds.
Peaceful rallies have drawn thousands outside LA City Hall and a federal detention center where immigrants are being held. Clashes were fewer on Wednesday morning, as city streets returned to a sense of cautious normalcy.
Protests have also spread to other major cities. In New York, 86 demonstrators were arrested in lower Manhattan overnight. In Chicago, a 66-year-old woman was injured when struck by a speeding vehicle during a protest. In Austin, Texas, police used chemical agents to disperse demonstrators, and the Texas National Guard was deployed in cities including San Antonio. Local officials, such as San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, reported being left in the dark about the exact number and role of deployed troops.
With legal, political, and humanitarian pressures mounting, the situation in Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate. The unprecedented overlap of immigration enforcement, protest response, and military involvement has intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s methods and motives.
As court battles loom and curfews continue, city leaders, residents, and immigrant families across the U.S. are left to navigate a tense and uncertain landscape.
Trump Defends Military
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