National Guard troops deployed to LA in response to protests against recent ICE raids

'This is not about protecting communities; it’s about crushing dissent and instilling fear. Armed troops do not belong in our neighbourhoods' - Paul O’Brien

In response to the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director, said:

“The deployment of National Guard troops is deeply alarming. It shows the Trump administration is ready to do whatever it takes to target and punish those who speak out in defence of human rights.

“This is not about protecting communities; it’s about crushing dissent and instilling fear. Armed troops do not belong in our neighbourhoods - military personnel are not trained in crowd control or de-escalation and should not be used for these purposes.

 “Bringing in the National Guard, without request from local authorities, exacerbates already widespread human rights violations taking place under the Trump administration, including unlawful arrests, mass detention and mass deportation, expulsions to dangerous prisons in other countries, the suppression of free expression, family separations, and the denial of due process.

 “The ICE raids themselves are rooted in discrimination, racial profiling, and the systematic violation of rights. People have the right to protest these injustices. Crushing that right with military force is simply incompatible with human rights.

“The US government must do better. We urgently call on authorities to de-escalate, end the deployment of the National Guard, and respect the right to peaceful protest. We also call upon the Trump Administration to end these mass deportations that are tearing communities apart.

“The real solution lies in building a fair, humane, and rights-respecting immigration system, one that upholds the dignity of all people, ensures safety, and strengthens communities.”