Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States, threatened those who protest against the massive raids initiated by ICE agents this Friday in Los Angeles, California.
"If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be pursued with the full force of the law", wrote on X Noem, following an escalation of disturbances against ICE in the city.
The Los Angeles police clashed with protesters downtown and in the suburb of Paramount (California) after declaring a protest illegal and pushing to disperse the crowd.
In the midst of the disturbances, Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops from California to restore and maintain order.
Two individuals were arrested for assaulting an officer and allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail, according to officials from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, as reported by CBS News Los Ángeles this Saturday.
After the raids on Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that federal agents used tactics that "instill fear in our communities and disrupt the basic principles of safety in our city."
The Los Angeles police chief, Jim McDonnell, issued a statement indicating that the city's police would not participate in the civil enforcement of immigration laws, and as a result, Trump mobilized the California police.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, also stated that active-duty Marines could be called in. He argued that the use of U.S. troops to enforce the law would not violate the old Posse Comitatus Act because the immigrants being targeted by ICE are "foreign invaders."
"The violent assaults by the mob on the ICE and federal law enforcement are designed to prevent the expulsion of illegal criminal foreigners from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (also known as foreign terrorist organizations) and a massive RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY," he wrote in a post on X.
More than 100 migrants have been detained by ICE since the raids began on Friday.
This Saturday, President Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles in response to the large-scale protests that erupted following the dozens of arrests on Friday during ICE operations throughout the city.
"If Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles cannot do their job, which everyone knows they cannot, then the Federal Government will intervene and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, in the way it should be resolved," he posted on his platform Truth Social.
In a memorandum he indicated to deploy at least 2,000 National Guard troops under Title 10 "for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense."
Frequently Asked Questions about ICE Raids and Protests in Los Angeles
What measures has the Trump administration taken in response to the protests against ICE in Los Angeles?
The Trump administration has deployed 2,000 California National Guard personnel to restore and maintain order following protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles. Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard in response to the escalation of riots and violence against ICE agents.
How many migrants have been detained in the recent ICE raids?
Since the raids began on Friday, more than 100 migrants have been detained by ICE. These actions are part of a series of large-scale operations led by Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.
What has the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, said about the protests and ICE raids?
Kristi Noem has been emphatic in her stance that anyone who touches an ICE agent will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law. Noem warned that those who assault ICE agents will be prosecuted to the maximum. Additionally, she has defended ICE's actions as necessary for national security.
What criticisms have emerged regarding the tactics used by ICE in Los Angeles?
The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, criticized ICE's tactics, stating that they sow fear in the communities and disrupt the basic principles of safety in the city. These critiques reflect concerns about the impact of raids on migrant communities.
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