Amid Immigration Protests in Los Angeles, US President Donald Trump said he is thinking of the option to invoke the Insurrection Act. The move would allow active-duty troops to police civilians.
During a briefing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Trump said
If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see,
Last night was terrible, and the night before that was terrible.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a House hearing said,
We stated very publicly that it’s 60 days because we want to ensure that those rioters, looters and thugs… know that we’re not going anywhere,
This law allows the president to use military force within the US in extreme circumstances. But the deployment will cost $134 million, primarily for travel, housing, and food.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s actions and filed an emergency legal motion to halt military assistance in immigration enforcement. He said that
California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next.
The situation has worsened after LAPD made 197 arrests on June 10, including 67 for blocking the 101 freeway apart from the Charges of vandalism, looting, assault with a deadly weapon, and attempted murder. In these riots, 7 police officers were injured and 2 hospitalised.
Also, Read: US Immigration Crackdown Triggers Protests And Clashes
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump warned that more immigration raids were coming and any future protests would be met with stronger response. In Trump’s words –
they will be met with very big force.
I haven’t even heard about a protest but you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.
Protests spread nationwide and rallied erupted in Seattle, Austin, Chicago, NYC, and D.C. Arrests were made in New York. Nationwide protests erupted against ICE raids and immigration policies and police responded with arrests, tear gas, and pepper spray.
Demonstrations span across US cities
Philadelphia
- About 150 protesters marched from the Federal Detention Center to ICE headquarters and back.
- Police arrested 15 people
- 2 officers and 2 protesters sustained minor injuries
San Francisco
- Around 200 demonstrators rallied outside the Immigration Court
- Over 150 arrests were made
- Injuries to police were reported
Seattle
- About 50 people protested outside the immigration court
New York City
- Crowds in lower Manhattan rallied near federal immigration buildings
- Several protesters were taken into custody
Washington, D.C.
- Union groups and lawmakers protested near the DOJ
Boston
- Hundreds protested
Dallas
- A bridge protest ended in a police crackdown
- 1 got arrested
Austin
- Protests turned violent as demonstrators defaced buildings and threw rocks
- 13 people arrested
- 4 officers were injured
San Antonio
- Texas National Guard was deployed in anticipation of protests
Santa Ana (CA)
- A small crowd demonstrated near the Civic Center
- Armed National Guard troops controlled access to federal buildings.
Denver
- Protesters with anti-ICE signs gathered at the state capital
Chicago
- Protesters marched through downtown calling for an end to deportations and federal military deployment.