Latest news with #militarydeployment
CBS News
40 minutes ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Vance says National Guard still "necessary" in L.A., calls Sen. Alex Padilla "José Padilla"
Washington — During a visit with federal law enforcement in Los Angeles on Friday, Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration still believes a military deployment to the city is necessary. Vance is the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit the Los Angeles area since protests broke out in the nation's second-largest city over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. He gave brief remarks after touring a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Center and a federal mobile command center, and meeting with leadership and Marines on the ground. President Trump federalized thousands of troops from the California National Guard in response to the Los Angeles-area protests and ordered about 700 Marines to be deployed to protect federal property. The president has directed federal immigration authorities to prioritize deporting individuals from Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles, and a series of ICE operations in L.A. sparked the protests earlier this month. The deployments drew a lawsuit from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued the presence of military forces could inflame the situation. Late Thursday, a federal appeals court allowed the president to keep control of the National Guard troops he deployed to the Los Angeles region, halting a ruling from a lower court judge who said the president acted illegally when he activated the troops over objections from Newsom. The protests have waned, but the troops remain. In remarks to reporters on Friday, Vance said the situation has "gotten a lot better," but the Marines and National Guard forces are still "very much a necessary part of what's going on here," arguing the protests could "flare back up." The vice president also alleged that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had "egged on" violence during the protests. The administration has accused state and local officials of failing to protect federal immigration agents from threats and interference from protesters. Local authorities have pushed back, arguing federal authorities are responsible for the chaos. "I would absolutely say that Gavin Newsom is endangering law enforcement," Vance said. Vance suggested the administration is willing to use the Guard in other places, but that it hopes not to. "If you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we're not going to send in the National Guard because it's unnecessary," the vice president said. In a news conference Friday night, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said Vance was "spewing lies and utter nonsense in an attempt to promote division and conflict in our city." Vance calls Sen. Alex Padilla "José Padilla" At one point, Vance referred to Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, as "José Padilla." "I was hoping José Padilla would be here to ask a question, but unfortunately, I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't the theater," Vance said. The senator made news last week after he was forcibly removed from a press conference hosted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, an incident Vance called "pure political theater." "Mr. vice president, how dare you disrespect our senator," Bass said in her news conference. "You don't know his name? But yet you served with him before you were vice president, and you continue to serve with him today. Because last time I checked, the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate. You serve with him today, but how dare you disrespect him and call him José. But I guess he just looked like anybody to you." Newsom said Friday in a post on X that mixing up Padilla's name was "not an accident," noting that Vance and Padilla served in the Senate together. "It was very generous of the Vice President to take time out of his closed-door fundraiser to stage a photo op in front of a fire truck — where he 'mistakenly' called a Latino U.S. Senator 'Jose,'" Newsom's office said in a statement. A spokesperson for the senator told CBS News the remark was an "unserious comment from an unserious administration." "As a former colleague of Senator Padilla, the Vice President knows better. He should be more focused on demilitarizing our city than taking cheap shots," the spokesperson added. "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law," Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk told CBS News. One of the more high-profile José Padillas was sentenced to prison on terrorism and conspiracy charges over a decade ago, on allegations that he worked with al-Qaeda. On Thursday, federal agents were seen outside the Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark, after the team said it blocked immigration authorities from entering. Fans protested, and the Department of Homeland Security said Customs and Border Patrol vehicles "were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement." Federal immigration officers have stepped up enforcement efforts, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller saying ICE officers are aiming for at least 3,000 arrests a day. So far, the number of arrests has failed to reach that target, with a daily average of about 1,200 arrests in the month of June as of earlier this week. Back in Washington, Mr. Trump is handling international matters, particularly the Israel-Iran conflict. In a statement on Thursday, the president said he will decide whether the U.S. will join Israel in its strikes in the next two weeks. The president traveled to Bedminster, New Jersey, for a fundraising dinner Friday night after meetings with his national security team at the White House.
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Vance says National Guard still "necessary" in Los Angeles, accuses Newsom of "endangering law enforcement"
Washington — During a visit with federal law enforcement in Los Angeles on Friday, Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration still believes a military deployment to the city is necessary. Vance is the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit the Los Angeles area since protests broke out in the nation's second-largest city over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. He gave brief remarks after touring a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Center and a federal mobile command center, and meeting with leadership and Marines on the ground. President Trump federalized thousands of troops from the California National Guard in response to the Los Angeles-area protests and ordered about 700 Marines to be deployed to protect federal property. The president has directed federal immigration authorities to prioritize deporting individuals from Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles, and a series of ICE operations in L.A. sparked the protests earlier this month. The deployments drew a lawsuit from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued the presence of military forces could inflame the situation. Late Thursday, a federal appeals court allowed the president to keep control of the National Guard troops he deployed to the Los Angeles region, halting a ruling from a lower court judge who said the president acted illegally when he activated the troops over objections from Newsom. The protests have waned, but the troops remain. In remarks to reporters on Friday, Vance said the situation has "gotten a lot better," but the Marines and National Guard forces are still "very much a necessary part of what's going on here," arguing the protests could "flare back up." The vice president also alleged that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had "egged on" violence during the protests. The administration has accused state and local officials of failing to protect federal immigration agents from threats and interference from protesters. Local authorities have pushed back, arguing federal authorities are responsible for the chaos. "I would absolutely say that Gavin Newsom is endangering law enforcement," Vance said. Vance suggested the administration is willing to use the Guard in other places, but that it hopes not to. "If you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we're not going to send in the National Guard because it's unnecessary," the vice president said. In a statement to CBS News, Newsom's office criticized Vance's visit — including one moment in which the vice president referred to Sen. Alex Padilla of California as "Jose Padilla." The Democratic senator made news last week after he was forcibly removed from a press conference hosted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "It was very generous of the Vice President to take time out of his closed-door fundraiser to stage a photo op in front of a fire truck — where he "mistakenly" called a Latino U.S. Senator 'Jose.' We'll let Californians judge his visit for themselves," Newsom's office said. On Thursday, federal agents were seen outside the Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark, after the team said it blocked immigration authorities from entering. Fans protested, and the Department of Homeland Security said Customs and Border Patrol vehicles "were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement." Federal immigration officers have stepped up enforcement efforts, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller saying ICE officers are aiming for at least 3,000 arrests a day. So far, the number of arrests has failed to reach that target, with a daily average of about 1,200 arrests in the month of June as of earlier this week. Back in Washington, Mr. Trump is handling international matters, particularly the Israel-Iran conflict. In a statement on Thursday, the president said he will decide whether the U.S. will join Israel in its strikes in the next two weeks. The president traveled to Bedminster, New Jersey, for a fundraising dinner Friday night after meetings with his national security team at the White House.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
With USS Nimitz deployment, the US surges air and sea assets to the Middle East
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East, and that will bring the total number of carriers in the region to two, a U.S. official told Task & Purpose on Monday. The U.S. military is also moving aircraft to the European and Central Command theaters in case they are needed to support U.S. installations in the region, and also provide options to government leaders, a second U.S. official said. The move comes after Israel began striking Iran on June 13 with the intent of crippling Iran's nuclear program. Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel in response. On Monday evening, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted the following statement on X: 'Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility. Protecting U.S. forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.' An official announcement that the Nimitz will join the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the region is expected soon. On Monday, Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin posted on X that the Nimitz, which was initially expected to replace the Carl Vinson in the Middle East, is heading to the region ahead of schedule, so the U.S. military can have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time. News of the Nimitz's deployment comes as flight tracking software showed on Sunday evening that at least 28 Air Force tankers had taken off from their bases and begun flying over the Atlantic Ocean, according to The War Zone. The tankers are used to refuel U.S. military fighters and bombers while in flight. President Donald Trump has not publicly ruled out the possibility that the United States could join Israel's ongoing campaign against Iran. 'We're not involved in it,' Trump said during a recent interview with ABC News' Rachel Scott. 'It's possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved.' Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is built into a mountain and is buried deep underground. Israel does not have the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs or the strategic aircraft than can carry them that would likely be needed to destroy the facility. UPDATE; 06/16/2025; this story was updated with a statement from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Sailors who can't deploy will be moved to empty jobs under Navy program Air Force relieves commander of pilot training squadron US military's highest ranking transgender officer says separation process is broken Army bringing in big tech executives as lieutenant colonels Trump reverts 7 Army bases to former names with new honorees, including Delta Force soldier
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
U.S. judge delays additional rulings in case against Trump's military deployment in LA
California's challenge of the Trump administration's military deployment on the streets of Los Angeles returned to a federal courtroom in San Francisco on Friday for a brief hearing after an appeals court handed President Donald Trump a key procedural win in the case. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer put off issuing any additional rulings and instead asked for briefings from both sides on whether the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil, is being violated in Los Angeles. Newsom said in his complaint that 'violation of the Posse Comitatus Act is imminent, if not already under way' but Breyer last week postponed considering that allegation. The hearing comes a day after the 9th Circuit appellate panel allowed the president to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed in response to protests over immigration raids. The appellate decision halted a temporary restraining order from Breyer, who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Despite the appellate setback, California's attorneys are expected to ask Breyer on Friday for a preliminary injunction returning control of the troops in Los Angeles, where protests have calmed down in recent days, to Newsom. Trump, a Republican, argued that the troops have been necessary to restore order. Newsom, a Democrat, said their presence on the streets of a U.S. city inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The demonstrations have appeared to be winding down, although dozens of protesters showed up Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where a group of federal agents in SUVs and cargo vans had gathered with their faces covered a parking lot. The Los Angeles Dodgers organization asked them to leave, and they did. Los Angeles Dodgers deny ICE agents access to stadium grounds On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew in downtown Los Angeles that was first imposed in response to vandalism and clashes with police after crowds gathered in opposition to agents taking migrants into detention. Breyer found that Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he said allows presidents to control state National Guard troops only during times of 'rebellion or danger of a rebellion.' 'The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of 'rebellion,'' wrote Breyer, a Watergate prosecutor who was appointed by President Bill Clinton and is the brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. The Trump administration argued that courts can't second-guess the president's decisions. The appellate panel ruled otherwise, saying presidents don't have unfettered power to seize control of a state's guard, but said that by citing violent acts by protesters in this case, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for federalizing the troops. For now, the California National Guard will stay in federal hands as the lawsuit proceeds. It's the first deployment by a president of a state National Guard without the governor's permission since troops were sent to protect Civil Rights Movement marchers in 1965. Trump celebrated the appellate ruling in a social media post, calling it a 'BIG WIN' and hinting at more potential deployments. 'All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,' Trump wrote. Newsom, for his part, has also warned that California won't be the last state to see troops in the streets if Trump gets his way. 'The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens,' Newsom said. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance was travelling to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with U.S. Marines who also have been deployed to protect federal buildings, his office announced.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Judge asks if troops in Los Angeles are violating Posse Comitatus Act
California 's challenge of the Trump administration's military deployment in Los Angeles returned to a federal courtroom in San Francisco on Friday for a brief hearing after an appeals court handed President Donald Trump a key procedural win. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer put off issuing any additional rulings and instead asked for briefings from both sides by noon Monday on whether the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil, is being violated in Los Angeles. Newsom said in his complaint that 'violation of the Posse Comitatus Act is imminent, if not already underway' but Breyer last week postponed considering that allegation. The hearing comes a day after the 9th Circuit appellate panel allowed the president to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed in response to protests over immigration raids. The appellate decision halted a temporary restraining order from Breyer, who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Breyer also asked the lawyers on Friday to address whether he or the appellate court retains primary jurisdiction to grant an injunction under the Posse Comitatus Act. California has sought a preliminary injunction returning control to Newsom of the troops in Los Angeles, where protests have calmed down in recent days. Trump, a Republican, argued that the troops have been necessary to restore order. Newsom, a Democrat, said their presence on the streets of a U.S. city inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The demonstrations have appeared to be winding down, although dozens of protesters showed up Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where a group of federal agents with their faces covered, traveling in SUVs and cargo vans, had gathered at a parking lot. The Los Angeles Dodgers organization asked them to leave, and they did. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew in downtown Los Angeles that was first imposed in response to vandalism and clashes with police after crowds gathered in opposition to agents taking migrants into detention. Trump federalized members of the California National Guard under an authority known as Title 10. Title 10 allows the president to call the National Guard into federal service when the country 'is invaded,' when 'there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government,' or when the president is otherwise unable 'to execute the laws of the United States.' Breyer found that Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he said allows presidents to control state National Guard troops only during times of 'rebellion or danger of a rebellion.' 'The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of 'rebellion,'' wrote Breyer, a Watergate prosecutor who was appointed by President Bill Clinton and is the brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. The Trump administration argued that courts can't second-guess the president's decisions. The appellate panel ruled otherwise, saying presidents don't have unfettered power to seize control of a state's guard, but said that by citing violent acts by protesters in this case, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for federalizing the troops. For now, the California National Guard will stay in federal hands as the lawsuit proceeds. It's the first deployment by a president of a state National Guard without the governor's permission since troops were sent to protect Civil Rights Movement marchers in 1965. Trump celebrated the appellate ruling in a social media post, calling it a 'BIG WIN' and hinting at more potential deployments. 'All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,' Trump wrote. Newsom, for his part, has also warned that California won't be the last state to see troops in the streets if Trump gets his way. 'The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens,' Newsom said. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance was traveling to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with U.S. Marines who also have been deployed to protect federal buildings, his office announced.
