PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs believes President Donald Trump is overstepping California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authority by sending troops to Los Angeles to suppress anti-ICE protests.
“Governors are the commanders in chief of our state National Guard,” Hobbs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos on Tuesday.
Hobbs believes the call should have been made by Newsom, who on Tuesday asked a federal court to block the Trump administration from using around 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to quell unrest and assist with immigration raids in Los Angeles.
A hearing is set for Thursday.
“This was an unprecedented overreach by the president, going around the governor and calling up, federalizing the California Guard against the governor’s wishes,” Hobbs said. “That hasn’t happened in 60 years.”
What led Trump to send thousands of troops to Los Angeles?
Protests erupted Friday after federal immigration raids led to dozens of arrests of workers.
Demonstrators blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire, prompting police to unleash tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades, according to the Associated Press. By Tuesday, National Guard troops protected immigration agents as they made arrests in Los Angeles.
“I think this is him using the power of the presidency to engage in a political battle, and I think that that’s not how I would be responding to the situation,” Hobbs said. “He’s not going after the people he said he would, like violent criminals. He’s doing indiscriminate roundups.”
She will closely monitor the court’s response to Newsom’s request. He has warned other states to take note of the situation in California and remain cautious about similar events unfolding in their own states.
“We’ve seen story after story that activity on the border is very quiet now,” Hobbs said. “And yet, the president continues to go after people that are just living their lives — not making us more unsafe.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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