TEXAS is the latest state to deploy National Guard troops on the ground as the chaos in Los Angeles continues to spread across the US.
LA’s mayor announced a curfew overnight as the city braces for a sixth day of intense protests.
Anti-ICE and anti-Donald Trump demonstrations have hit New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and other major cities since LA was taken over by rioters on Friday.
Some 197 people were arrested by the LAPD on Wednesday, with hundreds more being detained across America for similar protests.
The curfew on downtown LA was imposed at 8pm last night with most of the rioting chaos halted as troops patrolled the area and arrested anyone breaching the rules.
Mayor Karen Bass said the lockdown was based on a surging number of looting being reported.
Trump has now vowed to crack down on the growing demonstrations with more force than ever.
The president is believed to be readying up ICE tactical units to storm New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia and northern Virginia, MSNBC reports.
Some 4,000 National Guard troops are already in LA – despite objections by Californian Democrats.
With 700 Marines expected to begin patrolling the city on Wednesday.
Most demonstrations against Trump’s deportation program have remained largely peaceful.
But speaking at the 250th anniversary of the US Army on Tuesday, Trump said: “The mob in Los Angeles will not deter us.”
His comments come as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military presence in LA will cost $134 million.
California lawmakers have criticized Trump’s deployment of the National Guard, insisting the troops’ presence has just stoked further tensions.
Newsom has slammed Trump saying: “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” .
The governor has since sued the US president for what he called an unlawful deployment of federal troops with the hearing to take place on Thursday.
The growing demonstrations come as the feud between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom has deepened.
Trump blasted his west coast rival as “incompetent” and blamed him for “third world lawlessness”.
Newsom hit back by posting a Star Wars spoof video of Trump in the midst of their protest spat.
Protests spread across to at least 10 major US cities
Police in almost a dozen cities across the US are now reporting mass protests taking place on the streets.
Los Angeles has continued to see demonstrations, some of which have been violent, ever since Friday.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/14424780/trump-troops-la-protests-ice-raids/
