Update on Los Angeles Protests

Protests in downtown Los Angeles escalated for a fourth consecutive day as demonstrators gathered outside a federal detention center, voicing opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The situation intensified late Monday when police declared all of downtown an unlawful assembly area, ordering protesters to disperse after repeated clashes and incidents of violence[1].

Threats to Arrest Gavin Newsom, Ben Meiselas, and Others

Tensions between federal and state officials reached a new high after President Trump publicly suggested the arrest of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump’s remarks came after Newsom objected to the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles without his consent. Trump told reporters he would arrest Newsom if he were “border czar” Tom Homan, though Homan clarified there had been “no discussion” about actually arresting the governor[2][3].

Ben Meiselas, a prominent attorney and commentator, also became a target after he publicly criticized the legality of the troop deployment, calling it an “unlawful hijack” of federal authority[4]. The threats to arrest Newsom, Meiselas, and other critics have been widely condemned as authoritarian and lacking any legal basis[2][3].

Legal experts are clear: arresting a sitting governor or private citizens for opposing federal policy or troop deployment would violate core constitutional protections. The First Amendment guarantees the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government for redress of grievances. There is no law permitting the arrest of elected officials or private citizens for exercising these rights or for voicing opposition to federal actions[3][4]. 

Even Tom Homan, the former ICE director cited by Trump, admitted there was no current plan or legal justification for such arrests, despite his inflammatory rhetoric[3].

President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and later hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles, citing a need to restore order after days of protest[1][2]. Governor Newsom condemned the move, labeling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty” and vowing to challenge it in court[3].

Why Deploying Armed Military Against Citizens Is Unlawful

Posse Comitatus Act: This 1878 law generally prohibits the use of federal military personnel in domestic law enforcement, unless the Insurrection Act is invoked. The President has not invoked the Insurrection Act in this case, so the National Guard and Marines cannot lawfully engage in crowd control or arrest protesters[3][4][5].

Title 10, Section 12406: The statute Trump cited allows federalization of the National Guard only in cases of invasion, rebellion, or when it is impracticable to enforce federal law with regular means. Legal scholars and Ben Meiselas argue that the current protests do not meet these criteria—there is no rebellion or invasion, and civilian law enforcement is still operational[4][5].

State Sovereignty: The law requires the President to act in collaboration with the state governor, not in opposition. Deploying federal troops over the objection of the governor raises significant constitutional concerns under the Tenth Amendment and anti-commandeering principles[3][4].

First Amendment Rights: Deploying troops to suppress political protests raises serious concerns about infringing on the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly[5].

How to Stay Safe During Protests and Military Presence

If you are in Los Angeles or any area affected by these protests and military deployments, consider the following safety tips:

- Stay informed through trusted news sources and official city alerts.

- Avoid areas where police have declared an unlawful assembly or where military personnel are present.

- If you choose to protest, remain peaceful and follow lawful orders to disperse.

- Carry identification and know your rights—law enforcement cannot arrest you for peaceful protest or for voicing opposition to government actions.

- Record interactions with law enforcement if possible, but do not interfere with their duties.

- Have an emergency contact and a plan to leave the area quickly if violence erupts.

- If you feel unsafe, seek shelter in a public building or leave the protest area immediately.

Conclusion

The situation in Los Angeles remains tense as legal and constitutional battles play out over the deployment of troops and the rights of protesters. Threats to arrest public officials and critics are widely viewed as unlawful and authoritarian. The deployment of armed forces against civilians is highly controversial and, according to legal experts, likely unlawful under current circumstances. Residents and protesters are urged to stay safe, know their rights, and remain vigilant as events continue to unfold[1][2][3][4][5].

[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/los-angeles-police-order-immigration-protesters-downtown-go-home-2025-06-09/

[2] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/war-words-trump-newsom-la-protests-escalates-arrest/story?id=122662589

[3] https://time.com/7292191/trump-newsom-national-guard-california-los-angeles-protests-legal-challenge/

[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/law/comments/1l6kokv/ben_meiselas_trumps_2000troop_national_guard/

[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/does-us-law-allow-trump-send-troops-quell-protests-2025-06-08/

[6] https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/la-protests-ice-raids-trump-06-09-25

[7] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/posse-comitatus-act-center-trump-newsom-national-guard-dispute-la

[8] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/amid-la-protests-officials-rules-force-national-guard/story?id=122670457

[9] https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/freedom-of-expression/protest/

[10] https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Protest-Know-Your-Rights-nilc-2020.pdf

[11] https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/la-immigration-protests-live-updates-trump-deploys-2000/?id=122621279

[12] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/californias-governor-unfazed-threats-arrest-trump-administratio-rcna211752

[13] https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/09/governor-newsom-suing-president-trump-and-department-of-defense-for-illegal-takeover-of-calguard-unit/

[14] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/insurrection-act-trump-quell-la-protests/story?id=122650690

[15] https://civiliansinconflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/National-Guard-Brief-Single-Page.pdf

[16] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2025_Los_Angeles_protests

[17] https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/trump-threat-california-governor-newsom-20368617.php

[18] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-national-guard-california-lawsuit-gavin-newsom/

[19] https://www.npr.org/2025/06/09/nx-s1-5427168/los-angeles-national-guard-trump-legal-question

[20] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/la-protests-live-downtown-la-declared-unlawful-assembly-area-after-third-day-2025-06-09/

[21] https://www.npr.org/2025/06/09/nx-s1-5427215/what-to-know-los-angeles-protests-ice-trump

[22] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-says-hed-arrest-california-governor-gavin-newsom.html

[23] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/newsom-california-suing-trump-national-guard-la-1235359375/

[24] https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/national-guard-los-angeles-legal/

[25] https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025/06/09/national-guard-president-deployments/

[26] https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-marines-los-angeles-protests-fe9a4ed6

[27] https://apnews.com/article/insurrection-act-trump-troops-newsom-military-national-guard-a842f79e1c0e244039be274a6f266a7a

[28] https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/2473420/guidance-details-dos-and-donts-for-participation-in-political-demonstrations/

[29] https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2472714/guidance-details-dos-and-donts-for-participation-in-political-demonstrations/

[30] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-los-angeles-immigration-protests-trump/

[31] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuc1EMljtUY

[32] https://www.llrmi.com/articles/legal_updates/2020_floyd_mpd/

[33] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-90hz6qCkM

[34] https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15026/files/media/documents/55-1_Fields.pdf

[35] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKICX65Lkss

[36] https://www.ready.navy.mil/Portals/86/Documents/beinformed/manmade/MANMADE_Protests_031015JJK.pdf

[37] https://www.ready.marines.mil/Stay-Informed/Terrorism-and-Active-Shooter/Protests/

[38] https://www.firecommand.org/ems-safety-tips-during-protests-civil-unrest/

[39] https://www.ready.marines.mil/Portals/208/Docs/Factsheets/Manmade/Protest_082415.pdf