Contributor: Los Angeles’ stunts show democracy and cities, and Trump’s troops can invade at any time
Earlier this month, the U.S. military and federal agents covering immigration and customs enforcement, as well as customs and border protections, were covered up. Invasion A park near downtown Los Angeles – Ironically, one is named after General Douglas MacArthur. They were ready to fight, wearing tactical equipment and camouflage, some riding horses, while others were in armored vehicles or patrolling Blackhawk helicopters. Although the invading forces failed to occupy anyone, it did succeed in freeing the park from a group of children attending summer camps.
The action at MacArthur Park sounds like a “South Park” scene, but it does happen – its meaning is frightening. As Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol agent, explain Fox News: “It’s better to get used to us now because it’s going to be normal soon. We go anywhere anytime, anywhere, whenever we want,” Fox News said. President Trump is sending the same message to every Democratic governor and mayor who dare to object to him. He will send armed federal forces anytime, anywhere, for any reason and for any reason.
The U.S. stance is the threshold for dictatorship to break through, and Congress and the courts provide Trump with many tools. He learned from January 6, 2021 that he needs to strictly control the “guys with guns” because retired co-chairman Mark Milley explain. That’s what he got when he was in Congress that Trump loyalists led all the “Departments of Power” (the military, the FBI and the Justice Department, the intelligence community and other “Departments of Power” in the Department of Homeland Security).
As commander-in-chief, the president can deploy troops and in Title 10He could also place the National Guard under his command, even if it was against the will of local officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom Challenged Trump exercised the legitimacy of this authority in Los Angeles last month and we will see the court’s words – but according to its initial ruling, the Court of Appeal 9th Circuit Court It seems that the president may be delayed. exist POSSE COMITATUS ACTthe troops cannot enforce the law at present, but Trump can cite “The Law of Rebellion”, We must assume that the current Supreme Court will also surrender to him in this regard. precedent Saying that the president’s power under the bill is “conclusive”.
Trump can send the military to other cities, but his authoritarian Arsenal’s most dangerous weapon may be the newly authorized Department of Homeland Security, which Congress has donated $170 billion to the ice to double the size and detention capacity.
There is no doubt that this will put Trump’s “massive deportation” into speeding, but it’s not just immigration. Remember Portland in 2020, when Trump send Border Patrol Enters the City? Violate wishes Among the governors of Oregon and mayors of Portland, the president deployed agents who protected federal buildings and suppressed unrest after George Floyd’s killing. exist Homeland Security Actthe Secretary may designate any employee of the department to assist the Federal Protection Agency in protecting government property and conduct “other activities that promote homeland security measures, such as the Secretary’s provisions.”
Under the law, Department of Homeland Security officials can also be arrested on and off federal property for “any crime against the United States.” That’s why in 2020, Border Patrol agents (wearing like soldiers and equipped with M-4 semi-automatic rifles) were able to run in Portland with an unmarked black SUV and arrest people on the streets anywhere in the city. Trump can do this again anywhere in the country, and because Congress provides billions of dollars for immigration and border agencies, the Department of Homeland Security can assemble and deploy powerful federal paramilitary forces anywhere Trump is willing.
Of course, under the Fourth Amendment, officials need at least Reasonable doubt Based on specific, clear facts, before stopping and questioning someone, and possibly before arrest. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong on Friday Issuing temporary restriction orders Stop ice, customs and border protection, such a stop is made without reasonable doubt and further argue that it is impossible to be based on obvious race or race; a Spanish-speaking accent; presence in a specific location, such as a home warehouse parking lot; or the type of work done by a person. This ruling may ultimately provide important constitutional restrictions on these institutions, but we will see. The Trump administration appealed the ruling.
However, in the proceedings, it is important to note that the Department of Homeland Security’s agencies are not like the FBI, whose buttons and historically carry out book culture and respond to the revelation of J. Edgar Hoover’s abuse of power. DHS and its agencies do not have such luggage, and in the last month they apparently have been pushing Los Angeles’ envelopes, sometimes cruel. Even if Frimpong’s ruling stands up on appeal, ice, customs and border protection are undoubtedly the case, by training its officials to articulate other reasons to stop people from being on the streets or in the workplace. Ultimately, these institutions are accustomed to operating near the border, and in the words of the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the power of the federal government is “At its peak” and where there are fewer constitutional restrictions on its actions.
These are the tools that Trump can use – when the Department of Homeland Security is rushing to hire thousands of agents and build the detention facilities that just paid for, these tools will only become more powerful. And it should be expected that Trump will want to deploy DHS paramilitary forces to “protect” the 2026 or 2028 elections, just like they work together to occupy MacArthur Park.
Fantasy dystopian scene? Maybe who or what would prevent it from happening? Congress seems reluctant to stand up with the president – although federal judges may appear, the Supreme Court seems more likely to obey him, especially on issues concerning national security or immigration. Therefore, Bruce Springstin“After the failure of the government’s checks and balances, the final check on power is the people, you and me.” Suit.
Seth Stodder served as assistant secretary for homeland security, immigration and trade in the Obama administration, and previously served as assistant secretary for threat prevention and security. He teaches national security and counter-terrorism law at the University of Southern California Law School.
