U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance visited military personnel in Los Angeles on Friday following their deployment to the city earlier this month in response to protests triggered by federal immigration enforcement actions.
The deployment, ordered by President Donald Trump, included approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines. It came after a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace raids that sparked demonstrations across the city. The move was opposed by California’s Democratic leadership, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Speaking during his visit, Vance said the deployment remained necessary to maintain stability and public safety.
"The soldiers and Marines are still very much a necessary part of what’s going on here, because there’s concern the unrest could flare back up," he stated.
Vance also addressed concerns about the legal basis for the deployment. A federal appeals court ruling on Thursday upheld the administration’s authority to direct the California National Guard, despite objections from state officials.
"The court’s decision made clear that the president’s troop deployment was a completely legitimate and proper use of federal law enforcement," Vance said.
The vice president criticised what he described as a lack of enforcement support from some state and city officials. In response, representatives from the state pushed back on the administration’s claims.
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Governor Newsom, rejected Vance’s comments as "categorically false," citing the governor’s consistent public calls for peaceful demonstrations and accountability for violent actors. Newsom has also argued that the federal deployment has heightened tensions and described it as unconstitutional.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also responded during a press conference, expressing concern over the impact of the troop presence on local communities.
"The deployment of troops has spread fear throughout our city," she said, calling the move a "provocation."
The presence of federal troops has sparked renewed national discussion around the use of military forces in domestic situations and the balance of power between federal and state governments. The situation in Los Angeles continues to evolve as demonstrations persist and legal and political debate continues over the administration’s response to immigration enforcement protests.
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