National Guard Deployment to LA Sparks Outrage: Senators Condemn Trump’s “Authoritarian” Actions

President Donald Trump’s unprecedented deployment of the California National Guard to quell Los Angeles protests over federal immigration crackdowns has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Massachusetts senators are among the loudest voices condemning the move as a blatant overreach of power.

“Donald Trump’s deployment of the military in Los Angeles over the objection of California leaders is an abuse of power and a dangerous escalation,” stated Senator Elizabeth Warren on social media. “It’s what you would see in authoritarian states and it must stop. Americans have the right to speak out and peacefully protest.” Senator Ed Markey echoed these sentiments, labeling the action as “straight out of the authoritarian playbook.”

The deployment marks the first time in decades the National Guard has been deployed without a governor’s consent, a move California Governor Gavin Newsom called “the acts of a dictator.” The last such instance occurred in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect civil rights demonstrators in Alabama.

The Los Angeles protests erupted following a series of ICE raids that resulted in 118 arrests. Tensions escalated as protesters clashed with law enforcement and federal troops, prompting the controversial National Guard deployment. Governor Newsom has formally requested the Trump administration to rescind the order, a request supported by the Democratic Governors Association, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

This incident underscores a broader national context of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Massachusetts has not been immune to this increased ICE presence, experiencing numerous arrests and community anxieties. Recent ICE actions in Massachusetts include the detention of nearly 1,500 immigrants in May, the mistaken arrest of a Milford High School student, and sweeps on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and in Plymouth. These actions have fueled protests and widespread fear among residents, regardless of immigration status.

The Trump administration’s actions extend beyond arrests, including attempts to revoke the visas of college students, particularly those involved in pro-Palestinian activism, and even efforts to ban international students at Harvard University. These escalating actions have prompted concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for further escalation.

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