In a scene that restores the tensions of the 1960s and nineties, a city enters Los Angeles In the Democratic state of California, its fifth day of protests and confrontations, with the American President’s approach to Donald Trump The strict in the application of immigration laws and the deportation of irregular migrants.
Since last Friday night, the demonstrations that have turned into security confrontations continue after the federal authorities arrested irregular migrants in several areas in Los Angeles, with the aim of deporting them.
However, what began a civil protest that quickly turned into a constitutional crisis between Trump and the California state, which has been fought since the US President assumed confrontations with his administration on immigration, climate and education policies.
1- What happened in 4 days?
After the raids I carried out American Immigration and Customs Agency In the workplace of Los Angeles, protests, rejecting deportation erupted, after which demonstrators were clashed with the federal police, and then a “illegal collection” was announced, and the police intervened to break up the protests and arrest the protesters.
On Saturday, the demonstrations escalated and extended to new places, prompting Trump to publish 2000 elements of the National Guard without the approval of the governor of the state, Gavin Newsum, in a move, the first of its kind since 1965 when US President Lindon Johnson published the National Guard without the request of the state governor at the time of ethnic disturbances in the WhatsApp neighborhood that broke out after the police arrested a young man of African origin.
But the last time an American president ordered the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, was in 1992 with turmoil that followed the acquittal of 4 officers who assaulted an American of African origin. The presidential decision was then with the approval of the governor of the state.
The National Guard is a military force present in every state, usually belonging to the governor of the state, unless it is transferred to a federal force as Trump did, and it uses a response to natural disasters and preserving the local system.
Last Sunday, the National Guard elements began to deploy in Los Angeles, and were accompanied by the Marines that had announced the US Department of Defense (BokeIts willingness, and the clashes renewed in front of the Federal Detention Center, and the security forces used the rubber bullets and the tear gas against the protesters, as well as their arrest of a number of them.
On Monday, Trump ordered the deployment of 2000 additional elements of the National Guard along with about 700 naval infantry, despite the California Governor’s objections. The Los Angeles Police also announced the ban on the city center, confirming that law enforcement elements arrested at least 56 people in two days, while 3 members were slightly injured.
2- Did Trump made the crisis?
California governor considered that Trump entered without calling for creating the crisis. Newsum described the US president as “dictator.”
While Trump said that the deployment of the National Guard was aimed at restoring the regime, Newsum stressed that his decision was “a direct attack on the sovereignty of the state.”
Newsum considered that the state could have controlled the situation had it not been for the “tension” interference, stressing that “the American president ignited the fires and California had the tools needed to address the crisis.”
The Trump administration justifies its movement through the rebellion law, a law dating back to 1807, and gives the president the authority to deploy the armed forces, including the National Guard, in the event of a “internal rebellion” that threatens public order and impedes the implementation of federal laws that the state authorities are unable to impose.
Trump’s decision is a transgression of what he did to respond to the protests of “black life is important” in Philadelphia in 2020, when he said that “he cannot call the National Guard unless the ruler asked us to do so” and that “we have to adhere to the laws.”
Analysts considered that Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard came as a test of the borders of his executive authority in the context of implementing his electoral promise to deport irregular migrants.
3- Has the federal authority exceeded its powers?
In the event of internal disturbances, as happened in Los Angeles, the authority enjoys Federalism With specific but conditional powers, especially with regard to the deployment of federal forces such as the National Guard. The American constitution states that internal security is the responsibility of the states, but the federal government can intervene to protect public order in special cases.
American human rights workers considered that Trump’s move is a transgression of the powers of the federal government, because the security situation in Los Angeles was not out of control, and the state did not request any intervention to impose security, and some considered that the deployment of the National Guard could be interpreted as a political use of the federal power against opposition states.
California has opposed the hard -line federal policies of migration, and declared itself a “mandate of a haven” that restricts cooperation between the state police and immigration and federal agencies to track down irregular migrants who are not crimes.
California officials, including the Governor Newsum, have pledged to defend the rights of migrants, regardless of their legal status, stressing that the state “will not turn into a security arm of the capital.”
4- What are the judicial repercussions?
California Prosecutor Rob Ponta announced a lawsuit against a federal court against Trump, for the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles to counter the protests without coordination with the state.
According to the lawsuit, the president exceeded his powers using military force without authorizing the ruler.
The expected judicial ruling depends on a pivotal question: Does the president have the right to send federal forces to a state without their permission, if the situation considers a general threat?
5- How did the political conflict escalate?
Los Angeles disturbances have opened a new front of the division between Democrats and Republicans. It has restored the controversy over the immigration file, as the Republican Party believes that the deportation of irregular migrants is essential to protect national security, while the Democratic Party believes that the regime needs a comprehensive reform and that the treatment of migrants must respect their human dignity.
Trump depicted the turmoil as a “left -wing conspiracy to disrupt the state”, accusing democratic rulers of being tolerated with chaos.
Democrats in Congress considered that Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard “political intimidation” led to illegal security operations.
6- Who protects immigrants?
The irregular immigrants are not considered in US Absolutely without rights. Although their rights are limited, American law guarantees all those within the lands of the United States as basic rights regardless of their legal status.
They have the right to fair legal procedures that protect them from arbitrary deportation, and they also have the right not to be subjected to illegal inspection or arrest, as well as having the right to education up to 12 grade, and the right to emergency medical care.
But they do not have the right to legal work or social security and federal aid.
7- Why California?
According to the Pew Research Center estimates, about 10.5 million to 11 million irregular immigrants live in the United States, almost half of them from Mexico.
Because of its geographical proximity to Mexico and its agricultural and huge industrial economy, California is the state that includes the largest number of irregular migrants in the country, with more than two million people who are an essential part of the workforce in agriculture, construction and cleaning services.
American statistics indicate that irregular immigrants contribute billions of dollars annually to the economy through indirect taxes, such as sales and rent tax.
Source: Associated Press + Al Jazeera + New York Times + Agencies