(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the return of 2,000 National Guard troops to his control and blasted the Trump administration for its raids targeting illegal immigrants during a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Downey.
The Pentagon Tuesday ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles. Another 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines remain deployed.
During the press conference, the governor accused President Donald Trump of destroying families, scaring immigrants, hurting the economy and threatening democracy.
“This is about families. This is about communities. This is about sense of place. This is about our economy,” Newsom said. “And it’s about time Donald Trump grow up.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Wednesday countered that Newsom must call for an end to the violent targeting of law enforcement by rioters.
During a raid last week at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, a protester appeared to be firing a pistol at federal agents in a video broadcast by Los Angeles area TV station ABC7.
When a reporter reminded Newsom about that, the governor said he was concerned about such violence but added one of the farm workers fell 30 feet and died during the raid. United Farm Workers, a union, confirmed the death, and media reports later noted the man fell from the top of a greenhouse. He was identified as Jaime Alanis, 57, and is the first person known to die during ICE operations.
Newsom talked about immigrants, including those who are in the U.S. legally, becoming “scared to death” because of ICE raids.
“People are quite literally disappearing with no due process,” Newsom told reporters Wednesday afternoon outside Downey Memorial Christian Church. In June, federal agents went into the church parking lot and arrested a man as one of the pastors, the Rev. Tanya Lopez, took a video with her phone.
Newsom praised Lopez for exercising her rights.
“She did that. She videotaped what occurred and is an example of what’s occurring all over California at a level we have not seen in modern times,” Newsom said.
The governor said the ICE arrests have discouraged immigrants from showing up as workers or customers.
“A mother came to me and said, ‘I’m here legally. I am carrying my passport if you need any proof,’” Newsom said. “I said, ‘You don’t need to impress me.’
“That’s Trump’s America 2025,” he said.
The Democratic governor criticized ICE agents for wearing masks as they randomly pick up immigrants.
“This is not about violent criminals, quite the opposite,” Newsom said.
Homeland Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Center Square Wednesday that rhetoric by Newsom and other Democrats is threatening the safety of federal agents.
“The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable, and Governor Newsom must call for it to end. The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” McLaughlin wrote in an email. “Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like Governor Newsom are contributing to the 830 percent surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE.
“From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi Gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale,” she said. “This violence against ICE must end.”
Homeland Security has denied accusations of racial profiling during arrests and said masks are necessary for the agents’ safety.
But Newsom said masks could pose a threat to safety.
“If I’m walking randomly down the street with my kids and someone grabs me with a mask and tries to throw me into an unmarked van, I’m surprised someone hasn’t gotten hurt,” he said. “Maybe they have come to realize and change their tactics, even if they’re not compelled to do it at the appellate level.”
Newsom said it will take a couple weeks for the 2,000 National Guard troops who were withdrawn by the Pentagon to return to their regular California duties. Their work includes assisting with response to wildfires and efforts to combat narcotics such as fentanyl, the governor said.
