Politics
NEW: Karen Bass Humiliates Herself As First National Guard Units Arrive In Los Angeles
Just hours after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed that the California National Guard was not deploying to combat the Los Angeles riots, the first National Guard units began to arrive in the city.
On Friday night, President Donald Trump announced that he would be taking control of the California National Guard after state and city leaders failed to stop two days of sustained attacks on federal immigration agents.
“In light of these incidents and credible threats of continued violence, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard under 10 U.S.C. 12406 to temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions,” Trump announced in a press release Saturday. “Including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property, at locations where protests against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations.”
The National Guard units called into federal service will remain for at least 60 days, “or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense,” the president wrote.
“In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion.”
National Guard units did not arrive in Los Angeles as of Friday night, when Los Angeles Police Department officers ordered rioters to disperse well over 24 hours after disturbances erupted. In a truly head-scratching statement, the department praised residents, “community leaders” and others for a day of “peaceful protests” that “concluded without incident.”
The bizarre statement was released after mobs of rioters pelted rocks at federal agents in the community of Paramount, resulting in numerous injuries and a number of near-fatal crashes.
Despite the president’s directives, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed on Sunday morning that National Guard unites were not deploying to the city.
“I want to thank LAPD and local law enforcement for their work tonight. I also want to thank [Gavin Newsom] for his support,” the mayor wrote. “Just to be clear, the National Guard has not been deployed in the City of Los Angeles.”
The National Guard did indeed begin to arrive in Los Angeles almost immediately after the mayor’s post, however. Several armored vehicles and National Guardsmen in riot gear could be seen staging on Alameda Street ahead of another planned demonstration later today.
“We’ve already seen a large, growing National Guard presence here in downtown LA,” ABC 7 Los Angeles reported on Sunday morning.
ICE operations in Los Angeles this weekend have resulted in the arrest of 118 illegal immigrants, including five gang members and those with prior criminal histories of drug trafficking, assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and alien smuggling, DHS said. Nationwide, more than 2,000 illegal aliens have already been arrested over the weekend.
Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, announced that immigration operations will continue unabated despite violent acts from far-left extremists.
“Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County. I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions,” he said. “Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.”
