President Donald Trump declared his intention to “liberate Los Angeles” and restore order following protests related to ICE raids in the city. He directed key officials, including the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General, to take necessary action to end what he termed as “Migrant riots.” The protests erupted after ICE agents arrested numerous undocumented immigrants, prompting Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops. Trump expressed his view that the city had been invaded by “Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” and that the protests were attempts to stop deportation operations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, however, expressed confidence in the city’s ability to manage the situation without federal assistance, a sentiment echoed by California Governor Gavin Newsom who criticized Trump’s actions as “purposefully inflammatory”.
