California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom have sued the Trump administration for deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, without Newsom’s authorisation.
In a statement, Bonta calls the deployment an “inflammatory escalation unsupported by conditions on the ground”.
Bonta claims the deployment “exceeds the federal government’s authority” and violates the Tenth Amendment – we’ll bring you more on what that means in a moment.
But President Trump has vowed total showdown with the protesters and has sent 70 marines to Los Angeles. He has also defended his decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles despite criticism from California officials
Demonstrations broke outside in downtown LA on Friday after it emerged Immigration Customs Enforcement, ICE, officers were carrying out raids across the city
Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, triggering a political row – Newsom, along with LA mayor Karen Bass, believed local police could handle the protests.
Powers of the President
California’s Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom in their suit accused the president of “exceeding” his government’s authority under the 10th amendment.
Almost immediately after the states approved the US constitution in 1789, Americans made 10 amendments to the document, known as the Bill of Rights.
That 10th amendment clarified where the federal government’s power ended and where states’ power began – a major issue for former colonies that had experienced a great deal of autonomy before the Revolutionary War.
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Simply, the amendment says that any power that is not given – or “delegated” – to the federal government by the Constitution is given to the states.
But rarely is the Constitution simple. As with most of the Bill of Rights, Americans have had some major disagreements over the 10th amendment, especially during the Civil Rights era.
There is even a whole centre dedicated to educating people about it., external Some read the amendment as granting states’ power, while others read it as limiting the federal government’s.
Expect to hear about the amendment a lot more in the coming future, as California and possibly other states will use it to legally challenge President Trump’s federalisation of their National Guard.
The state is arguing that he has gone against the 10th amendment. It is an interesting reversal of the typical positions.
Throughout US history, it has been Republicans and their conservative predecessors who advocated the most for states’ rights and for the 10th amendment.
Citizens react
Families of warehouse workers detained by ICE on Friday have been speaking at a news conference, demanding justice and due process for their relatives.
Relatives emphasise that those they say were “kidnapped” by ICE – with the support of Los Angeles police – are the breadwinners, upon whom their families depend.
One speaker, Montserrat Arrazola, says she witnessed her father being detained. She describes seeing families of those detained “screaming and crying” and says ICE “should not be allowed in the workplace”.
Gabriel Vasquez, who’s brother Jacob was arrested, says employers should be held accountable for working with ICE and demands that California’s sanctuary status is respected.
The daughter of Mario Romero, who was also arrested on Friday, says she saw ICE putting her father in handcuffs and chaining him from the waist and ankles. She says she hasn’t head from him since then.
Reported by BBC
