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In a breaking news segment, NBC’s Hallie Jackson reports from Los Angeles amidst a storm of protest and tension over federal immigration raids. President Trump has deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to the area despite opposition from state leaders who did not request them and actively opposed their presence. The National Guard is outfitted with weapons, body shields, and tear gas canisters as protests enter their third day, centering around demonstrations against recent federal immigration actions.
Governor Gavin Newsom has firmly rebuffed the deployment, accusing Trump of attempting to create a crisis to justify further crackdowns. As protests escalate, law enforcement labels the gathering unlawful, and tensions run high. Reports describe chaotic scenes across Compton, where demonstrations turned violent, with protesters clashing with authorities and incidents of looting and vandalism emerging.
Amidst the unrest, Sheriff Robert Luna assures that his deputies are taking on a peacekeeping role, advocating for the right to protest while denouncing any violence. Trump’s administration argues that mobilizing the National Guard is necessary to ensure public safety, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth mentioning that active-duty Marines are on standby.
Critics, however, argue that the deployment is an unnecessary escalation of the situation, breaking with longstanding tradition of federalism by sending troops without state request. This incident marks a significant historical precedent; it’s the first time since the civil rights era in 1965 that such a decision has been made without the backing of a state’s governor.
As tensions rise further, Trump hints at potentially invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely utilized wartime law allowing military force deployment within the U.S. during times of rebellion. The implications of the current situation are vast, and political leaders are closely monitoring developments as they unfold.
