1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Deploying federal agents and military personnel in Los Angeles is unacceptable overreach and political hypocrisy. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that local law enforcement did not need help, but "Trump sent troops anyway — to manufacture chaos and violence". These federal operations began with ICE agents conducting raids across Los Angeles at businesses like Home Depots, a doughnut shop, and a clothing wholesaler, searching for suspected undocumented immigrants. In other words, ICE went on a fishing expedition with no evidence and randomly targeted non-white people. None of this was necessary. Prior Presidents, including Biden, Obama, Clinton, both Bushes, Reagan, and Carter, managed immigration policy without such disruptive and aggressive tactics. Biden deported more immigrants than Trump and did so without trampling on due process and the Constitution. The narrative used to justify this federal action is demonstrably false and serves as a political distraction. It is claimed that Los Angeles has been "invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals" and that "violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents". However, none of this is true. Los Angeles hasn’t been invaded or occupied, and violent mobs aren’t swarming. During the Friday sweep, only 121 undocumented migrants were arrested in a city of 3.821 million people, which is a rounding error away from zero, not an invasion or occupation. Furthermore, the term "insurrectionists" is also being misapplied to protestors. January 6 was an insurrection for which a violent mob that attacked the police was pardoned on Trump’s day one. Protesting human rights violations is not an insurrection. This federal intervention exposes a blatant hypocrisy regarding states' rights and the deployment of the National Guard. Previously, in 2024, Republicans, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, vehemently opposed Biden federalizing the National Guard to prevent Texas from using razor-wire at the border, calling it a "direct attack on states’ rights". Speak out against this unnecessary and politically motivated federal intervention in Los Angeles. Reject the use of federal forces to manufacture chaos, undermine local authority, and propagate false narratives for political gain. Call out the hypocrisy of those who champion states' rights only when it aligns with their partisan agenda. Take immediate action to ensure federal resources are not misused in a way that undermines civil liberties and fabricates crises.