California Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn’t like President Donald Trump activating the National Guard in his state. His solution should be to do a better job of making sure Democratic Party officials do not impede federal deportation operations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents served warrants at several worksites across Los Angeles last Friday after a judge found probable cause that employers were using fictitious documents for illegal workers. Instead of working with federal law enforcement agencies conducting lawful arrests, Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement accusing the agents of sowing “terror.” She additionally promised to work with “immigrant rights community organizations” to coordinate a response, warning, “We will not stand for this.” Later, David Huerta, who is president of the Service Employees International Union of California, was arrested at a worksite for obstructing federal officers.
Throughout the rest of the day, rioters threw rocks at federal law enforcement vehicles and blocked their movement throughout the city. A mob of more than a thousand rioters surrounded and attacked a federal detention center where the illegal immigrants arrested were being detained. ICE agents called the Los Angeles Police Department for help, but it took over two hours for them to arrive. Rioting then continued throughout the night. One of the reasons for this was the fact that the city of Los Angeles has been chronically short of police officers for the past decade, which should be remembered when the Left complains about their reinforcement by the National Guard, which happened as violence continued.
On Saturday, California State Assemblyman Jose Luis Solache saw several Customs and Border Protection vehicles leave the freeway and enter his neighborhood. He followed them to a parking lot across the street from a Home Depot. The agents stayed in their cars and did not arrest anyone. But Solache nevertheless posted a video to his social media account urging followers to come and interfere. “No en mi distrito,” Solache said. “Not in my district. Vamonos pa fuera (let’s go, get out of here).”
The incitement worked, and CBP agents found themselves surrounded by hundreds of rioters who threw rocks at them. Finally, sheriff deputies arrived and fired tear gas and flash-bang rounds to clear a path for CBP agents to escape the mob. But rioting continued throughout the day and into the night. Stores were looted — a sure sign that the rioters are not on the side of the angels — cars were set on fire, and fireworks were launched at police and their vehicles.
Newsom wants to blame Trump for the violence, but his allegations do not bear scrutiny. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom falsely tweeted Sunday night. But Trump did not announce activation of the National Guard until midnight on Saturday, at which time Los Angeles had been engulfed in rioting for two days. The failure to maintain law and order was entirely Newsom’s, along with the Democratic Party and Mayor Bass. They are the ones telling constituents not to tolerate federal law enforcement in their communities. They are the ones instigating mobs into violence.
Democrats and their open border allies are allowed to protest Trump’s policies peacefully. If Democratic politicians want to stand with illegal immigrants and wave the Mexican flag, they are at liberty to do so, dumb though it would be politically. But they have no right to obstruct federal law enforcement as officers serve warrants and lawfully arrest illegal immigrants for deportation.
THE SUPREME COURT MUST REIN IN BIDEN’S OPEN BORDERS JUDGES
The anti-law enforcement rhetoric of the Democratic Party has created a dangerous environment in California. These are the same Democrats who refuse to enforce the state laws against illegal camping, drug dealing, burglary, shoplifting, and arson. Trump has every right to call in the National Guard to make sure federal agents are safe, especially if the LAPD takes two hours before responding to calls for help.
Only 300 National Guard soldiers have been deployed to protect three federal locations in Los Angeles. If Newsom and Bass want to prevent more troops from coming, they should stop obstructing ICE’s work.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
