Trump's Authoritarian Power Grab in Los Angeles

  Trump’s Authoritarian Power Grab in Los Angeles Is an Attack on Democracy—and on ImmigrantsBy Carlos Alcala, California Democratic Council.  Media Director

  Donald Trump’s decision to unilaterally deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles—over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass—isn’t just a dangerous abuse of power. It’s an authoritarian stunt aimed at silencing protest, undermining democratic governance, and scapegoating immigrants while cutting off every legal avenue they’re supposed to use.
Let’s not mince words. The people of California overwhelmingly elected Newsom and Bass to lead their communities, manage public safety, and reflect their values. These leaders made it clear: they did not want or need military troops flooding their streets. But Trump—true to form—ignored that democratic mandate. In doing so, he revealed exactly what kind of governance he supports: one where force overrides consent, and the will of voters is trampled by federal intimidation.
This move fits into a broader, deeply cynical strategy. Trump has spent years dismantling legal pathways to immigration—shutting down asylum processes, gutting refugee programs, and imposing cruel and arbitrary barriers to lawful entry. Then, when people flee violence and poverty and arrive at the border seeking help, he turns around and blames them for not “doing it legally.” It’s a rigged system by design: close the door, then punish people for knocking.
Now, he’s bringing that same hypocrisy to the streets of Los Angeles, conflating protest, immigration, and public disorder to justify militarized crackdowns. It’s not about security. It’s about optics, fear, and division.
What Trump is really doing is targeting communities who dare to stand up—for immigrant rights, racial justice, and democracy itself. The people in the streets are demanding an end to police violence, an end to xenophobia, and a government that actually listens to them. Trump’s answer? Send in troops. Silence dissent. Pretend it’s about “law and order.”
Let’s be clear: true law and order comes from justice, not occupation. It comes from investing in communities, not militarizing them. And it absolutely comes from respecting the democratic will of the people—not overriding it with tanks and troops.
This is not just a local issue. It’s a national crisis of democracy. If a president can ignore elected leaders and flood cities with soldiers, where does it end? What happens the next time a protest erupts in a city that doesn’t share his politics—or his prejudices?
The answer lies in collective resistance. Progressives, immigrants, organizers, and everyday citizens must speak with one voice: we will not allow fear to replace freedom. And we will not allow a twice-impeached former president to rewrite the rules of democracy to serve his authoritarian ambitions.
This is our fight—not just for Los Angeles, but for every city, every immigrant, and every person who believes in democracy over dictatorship.
California Democratic Council. Representing 420 Democratic Clubs in the California Democratic Party.  Carlos Alcala is Chair of the Chicano Caucus.

HERE’S THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT ICE RAIDS IN LOS ANGELES RIGHT NOW
This weekend’s shocking and violent raids in Los Angeles are meant to be a show of force from the Trump regime. This is about instilling fear and terrorizing Angelenos. But we can fight back.
Given the latest news about National Guard Deployment, we expect raids to continue and encourage community members to be safe and thoughtful.
The Trump regime’s raids have terrorized our community this weekend. Students and parents targeted at schools. Lawyers illegally denied access to speak to those detained. Protestors and observers brutalized.
The LAPD has abetted the raids in the name of “preserving public safety”, in violation of the spirit if not the letter of LA’s Sanctuary City Ordinance. Angelenos protecting our communities are not a threat to public safety, militarized agents kidnapping our neighbors is. DSA-LA opposed the appointment of Jim McDonnell as police chief precisely because of his history of collusion with ICE.

1. CALL THE COMMUNITY HOTLINE

888-624-4752
If you see federal agents in your neighborhood, call the LA Rapid Response Network. Community groups rely on these calls to deploy trained volunteers to document and monitor immigration actions.

1. ATTEND AN ACTION

 Citizens who know their rights can disrupt and slow ICE incursions, as well as pressure local authorities to take action. Here are two upcoming events - stay tuned for more details:

• TODAY 6/8, 2pm, LA City Hall, ICE Out of LA / National Guard Go Away
• Monday 6/9, 11am, Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles 90012 - Local unions are organizing a rally during the arraignment of detained union leader David Huerta.
• Tuesday 6/10, 6pm, Glendale City Hall- Glendale City Council has a contract to lease their jail beds to ICE. Attend their meeting and make your voice heard at general public comment to demand this contract be terminated.

 Use best protest practices. Here are resources from the National Lawyers Guild - Los Angeles.
Do you know of any other actions? Share them by replying to this e-mail! We will continue to broadcast other events at which DSA members will have an organized presence.

1. CONNECT WITH YOUR COMRADES

“These raids are freaking me out. Are you doing okay?”
 Now is the time to reconnect with friends and family, fellow DSA members, union siblings, and members of other community organizations resisting ICE like the Community Self-Defense Coalition. Online tools can help spread the word, but we can only fight fascism through real community. Don’t just scroll - talk to someone!
 If you aren’t a member of an organization, now is the time to join one.
Los Angeles DSA