1. United States
2. Letter

National Guard troops have been deployed to Los Angeles in response to ICE raids, despite the absence of a request from Governor Newsom. This situation demands urgent scrutiny. Constitutional experts warn that this marks the first instance in 60 years of federalizing a state-controlled National Guard, which violates the Militia Clauses and undermines state sovereignty. California’s lawsuit, alongside the broader legal consensus, makes it clear that this overreach is unconstitutional. Moreover, Trump has publicly endorsed this action, stating about Governor Newsom, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” effectively supporting the idea of arresting a sitting governor. This rhetoric crosses a line into authoritarianism. When presidents threaten to imprison political opponents, it moves beyond politics into the realm of intimidation. On the ground, this overreach has turned neighborhoods into conflict zones. Tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs have been used not against violent offenders, but against protesters exercising their First Amendment rights. The outcome? Confusion, fear, and division. National Guard troops were deployed to suppress peaceful dissent—an image that resembles authoritarian regimes more than the values of America. A fundamental question now faces our country: Are we citizens under the rule of law, or are we subjects of an autocracy? We demand that the National Guard be returned to state control, that threats against Governor Newsom be condemned, and that federal authority be confined within constitutional limits. This isn’t just a partisan issue—it’s a matter of patriotism.