ACLU Reacts to President Trump’s Federalizing National Guard Troops in Response to Protests

WASHINGTON — Tonight, the Trump administration announced it will federalize 2,000 National Guard troops to counter protests in Los Angeles. The protests responded to dangerous ICE-led immigration raids over the last two days, and the arrest of California SEIU president David Huerta.

Hina Shamsi, director of the National Security Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement in response:

"President Trump's deployment of federalized National Guard troops in response to protests is unnecessary, inflammatory, and an abuse of power. By taking this action, the Trump administration is putting Angelenos in danger, creating legal and ethical jeopardy for troops, and recklessly undermining our foundational democratic principle that the military should not police civilians."