A wave of sharp criticism from Los Angeles and California leaders surged Tuesday in response to the ongoing National Guard deployment in the city, with elected officials and community representatives decrying the federal action as a threat to public safety and community trust.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Chair of the LA County Legislative Delegation, led a unified message from over 30 Democratic legislators across California calling for the de-escalation of words and actions by the federal government.
The legislators said the president’s actions are putting residents across Los Angeles County in danger. Late last week, the federal administration nationalized the California National Guard, without a request by Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and began positioning U.S. Marines in the region in anticipation of escalated violence.
“On behalf of the LA County Legislative Delegation and the 10 million people that call LA County home, we have a simple message for the current President of the United States: Stop,” McKinnor said.
“Mr. President, stop violating the constitutional rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop violating the due process rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop provoking fear and violence in LA County.”
Culver City Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin labeled the deployment “an unacceptable overreach” in a statement posted to the city’s official website, saying it “disrupts the fabric of our community.” She urged federal authorities to reconsider the move and reaffirmed Culver City’s commitment to protecting all residents, regardless of immigration status.
Governor Gavin Newsom, in a statement on the California Governor’s Office website, called the deployment “unlawful and unnecessary” and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sanctuary policies under the California Values Act.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s priority remains “keeping all Angelenos safe and maintaining trust between law enforcement and our residents,” according to a statement on the city’s official website. She emphasized that local police are bound by state law, which prohibits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, whose district includes parts of South Los Angeles, has spoken out against the federal actions in public remarks reported by The Los Angeles Times. Waters described the deployment as “an intimidation tactic that disrupts community trust and chills civic participation,” according to the Times’ coverage.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it would not engage with immigration enforcement, citing policies consistent with state law. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the department focuses on “community policing that ensures all residents feel safe reporting crimes without fear of deportation,” according to an official LAPD statement.
Tensions escalated after reports that federal officers made multiple arrests during protests in Downtown Los Angeles and other neighborhoods over the weekend. Several civil rights groups have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of federal actions in the city, arguing the deployment violates constitutional protections, according to court documents reviewed by The Los Angeles Times.
The deployment follows a national trend where federal agents have been sent to several cities, often sparking local pushback.
Community organizations in neighborhoods including South Los Angeles and Boyle Heights held vigils and peaceful demonstrations over the weekend, expressing concern over federal intervention and its impact on immigrant families. Local leaders and activists have called for unity and calm, urging residents to continue peaceful protest.
