As rioters overrun the streets of Los Angeles, California, waving foreign flags while burning cars and assaulting federal officers, Gov. Janet Mills signed on to a statement criticizing President Donald Trump for using the National Guard to restore order.
“President Trump’s move to deploy California’s National Guard is an alarming abuse of power. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous,” said the statement from the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
President Trump ordered the deployment of California National Guardsmen on Saturday to defend Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and to protect federal property.
A state’s governor typically serves as the Commander-in-Chief of its National Guard, and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has objected to the use of his state’s forces to help protect ICE agents.
Trump, however, invoked a provision of the law that allows a president to deploy the National Guard, despite the objections of a state’s governor, in cases of foreign invasion or insurrection.
“In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” the White House said in a statement.
The president authorized the deployment of a minimum of 2,000 National Guard troops and gave Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth the authority to deploy “any other members” of the regular armed forces that he deems necessary to protect federal functions and property.
Hegseth used that authority on Monday, when 700 Marines were deployed to assist the National Guard troops already working to quell the riots.
“To carry out this mission, the deployed military personnel may perform those military protective activities that the Secretary of Defense determines are reasonably necessary to ensure the protection and safety of Federal personnel and property,” said Trump.
Gov. Newsom filed a lawsuit against Trump on Monday in response to the deployment, accusing him of violating the Constitution.
“We are suing Donald Trump. This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into ANY STATE HE WISHES. Every governor — red or blue — should reject this outrageous overreach,” said Newsom on X.
The president doubled down on his decision to deploy the National Guard and ordered an additional 2,000 troops to the city on Monday night.
“At the order of the President, the Department of Defense is mobilizing an additional 2,000 California National Guard to be called into federal service to support ICE & to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell
Trump suggested that Border Czar Tom Homan should arrest Newsom, whom he describes as a “nice guy” but “grossly incompetent.”
Footage of the riots has shown violent rioters attacking law enforcement agents and burning vehicles.
Protesters in Portland, Maine, showed their solidarity with the California rioters on Sunday with an event organized by DSA Maine, Presente! Maine, Maine Coalition for Palestine, and “People’s Inclusive Welding.”
Presente! Maine previously received $1,424,520 in federal grants based on 2022 Form 990 tax filings and works to help illegal immigrants evade ICE.
Democrats in Maine’s state legislature are also working to support illegal immigrants in the face of deportation efforts. The Judiciary Committee voted in favor of a bill from Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland), LD 1971, that limits the extent to which local authorities can comply with ICE.
The committee voted 7-6 in favor of an “ought to pass as amended” recommendation, which included a lengthy amendment that somewhat softened the bill’s impact, while still making immigration enforcement more difficult in Maine.
