Northern California’s representatives are keeping a close eye on the swell of militarized law enforcement sent to Los Angeles this week, predicting that President Donald Trump may expand his use of the tactics in the coming days.
While many Democratic lawmakers call for peace as more troops move in, one Northern California lawmaker said the use of the military may not be isolated to the south of her district. Rep. Zoe Lofgren told NOTUS that Trump’s memo suggests he will deploy the military everywhere he sees fit — and that Trump intends to “further inflame” the situation.
“It’s not limited to California or Los Angeles,” Lofgren said. “It’s illegal, but he’s saying he’s going to send troops where he wants.”
“I’m speaking up, and I would like to know where are the Republicans, both House and Senate,” Lofgren added. “Are they just going to stand by while our constitutional system is crushed?”
Trump deployed the California National Guard to Los Angeles on Sunday — against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes — after protests erupted against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids carried out there over the weekend. He activated at least 2,000 troops for a 60-day span to respond to the protests, which he contested were an “act of rebellion” that deliberately interfered with the government’s ability to enforce federal law.
California’s Attorney General announced Monday the state is suing the Trump administration, which Newsom has said illegally federalized the National Guard to respond to a situation that local authorities had under control.
“Make no mistake. There was no risk of rebellion, no threat of foreign invasion,” state Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a news conference Monday. “It is the president that needs to put a mirror up to himself … the unlawful actor is him and his administration.”
Trump also called for Newsom’s arrest on Monday after Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, said there had been no discussion of it. Later that day, the administration mobilized hundreds of U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area.
Another Northern California lawmaker, Rep. Sam Liccardo, said he called a news conference Sunday over his concern of a “slippery slope toward military deployment in cities for law enforcement, which of course is illegal and incredibly dangerous.”
On Monday evening, Liccardo told NOTUS it was important for Democrats to call out Trump’s actions.
“There’s a calculated decision being made to deploy National Guard in a way that could incite a reaction,” Liccardo said. “I am urging all the protesters not to take the bait. It’s very important for lots of reasons why we want all protests to remain nonviolent, but we certainly don’t want to provoke greater militarization of law enforcement.”
Rep. Jimmy Panetta told NOTUS he’s “always concerned” a conflict of this type could bleed into his district, but he diverted to the broader contention Californians have with the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“When you send in the National Guard, this type of violence can escalate things,” Panetta said. “Obviously we’re concerned, being the representative of the Central Coast district, being a fellow Californian, but also being an American.”
Rep. Ro Khanna’s office directed NOTUS to his statement on X: “The LA crisis is a test of federalism. Political violence must be condemned—but so must executive overreach. California had control. Trump’s attempt to override [Newsom’s] Guard authority defies the Constitution and the American principle of limited federal power.”
Em Luetkemeyer is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow. John T. Seward contributed reporting. This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and San José Spotlight.
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