According to Golden Finance, on the afternoon of June 8th local time, before boarding Air Force One in New Jersey, US President Trump expressed a tough view on the recent situation in Los Angeles to the media. He directly pointed out that there were “violent elements” in Los Angeles, accusing these people of “spitting at law enforcement officers and throwing things”, and firmly stated that “if they spit, they will be beaten” and “they will never get away with it”.
This statement stems from a series of conflicts triggered by the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in Los Angeles. Since the morning of the 6th, federal agencies such as the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement have dispatched a large number of law enforcement officers to carry out law enforcement operations against illegal immigrants in multiple locations in Los Angeles County, California. This operation immediately triggered a large number of street confrontations, chaos and conflicts. Protesters held up opposition signs and shouted slogans such as “Immigration and Customs Enforcement, get out of here”. Some protesters also threw stones and water bottles at law enforcement officers and waved the Mexican flag. Law enforcement officers fired tear gas and detonation bombs to disperse the protesters.
When asked if he planned to send troops to Los Angeles, Trump gave a clear response: “We will deploy troops everywhere and will never allow the country to be torn apart. We will not repeat the mistakes made during Biden’s tenure.” In fact, Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles, California on the 7th to deal with the riots caused by the local hunt for illegal immigrants. White House Press Secretary Levitt said that “illegal acts in Los Angeles have been condoned and worsened”, and Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to deal with it. The US military said on the 8th that a total of 300 National Guard personnel were stationed in the Los Angeles area of California as instructed on that day. In addition, on the 8th, Defense Secretary John Hegthys ordered that after coordination by the US Northern Command, 500 US Marines have been placed in a “ready for deployment” state and could be dispatched to Los Angeles at any time to assist in responding to the ongoing protests in the area caused by the immigrant raid.
Trump also warned that California officials who obstructed the deportation of illegal immigrants would face charges. On June 8 local time, White House Border Affairs Director Horman warned that if local officials such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Cullen Bayes continue to oppose federal immigration enforcement operations around Los Angeles, they may face arrest for serious crimes such as “harping illegal immigrants” and “obstructing law enforcement”. Homan accused the two of establishing a “criminal shelter”, emphasizing that “they are not immune to arrest”.
Trump’s remarks and actions this time reflect his tough stance on the issue of illegal immigration. Since taking office on January 20 this year, Trump has been tough on illegal immigrants, declaring a “national emergency” at the border between the southern United States and Mexico, and vowing to deport “millions” of illegal residents. He also signed an executive order, requiring federal agencies to hunt down and deport illegal immigrants. This operation in Los Angeles is precisely the specific implementation of its immigration policy.
However, this action has aroused opposition from multiple parties. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on social media platform X on the 8th, listing the so-called “dictator’s actions” and reposting a video of Trump’s speech to reporters on that day, accusing Trump of “inciting and provoking violence”, “creating large-scale chaos”, “militarizing the city” and “arresting opponents”. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also strongly opposed the federal government’s dispatch of the National Guard to Los Angeles, claiming that this move was “deliberately creating chaos”. She had previously communicated with officials of the Trump administration, clearly stating that the situation in Los Angeles was controllable and there was no need for federal forces to intervene at all. Furthermore, 22 Democratic governors issued a joint statement on the 8th, strongly condemning Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, California. The statement said that Trump’s move was a shocking abuse of power.
Trump claimed that “the country will never be allowed to be divided”, but judging from the current situation, his tough policy on illegal immigrants has triggered fierce conflicts between the federal government and local governments, as well as among different political factions. This conflict may be intensifying the division in American society. As the incident develops, how the Trump administration will respond to the opposition from all sides in the future and where the situation in Los Angeles will go have drawn much attention.
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