Res. No. 1014

Resolution condemning the Trump administration’s use of a federalized national guard to repress free speech, militarize American cities and carry out his anti-immigrant agenda.

By Council Member Cabán

Whereas, On Friday, June 6, 2025 federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents carried out enforcement actions at multiple locations in Los Angeles California; and

Whereas, In response to ICE raids members of the public gathered to protest at an ICE detention facility in Los Angeles, as well as multiple other locations throughout  the city where ICE actions were reportedly taking place; and

Whereas, ICE agents arrested David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union California as he protested the immigration raids in Los Angeles; and

Whereas, While mostly peaceful, a small number of individuals threw objects at law enforcement officers and damaged property; and

Whereas, Local law enforcement was able to respond and restore order quickly; and

Whereas, Peaceful protests continued in and around Los Angeles on June 7; and

Whereas, On June 7, 2025 President Trump used the Los Angeles area protests to invoke emergency powers to federalize California National Guard members; and

Whereas, President Trump ordered the deployment of approximately 4,000 Nation Guard troops to Los Angeles; and

Whereas, In addition to federalizing the California National Guard, President Trump has also sent Marines into Los Angeles; and

Whereas, The National Guard is typically only brought into American cities when local authorities require additional resources or manpower; and

Whereas, At no time did the any California law enforcement agency request federal assistance; and

Whereas, At no time did the Governor of California request federal assistance; and

Whereas, Military forces are trained for combat and are not trained in civil law enforcement; and 

Whereas, The Governor, not the President, is the commander-in-chief of the state’s National Guard; and

Whereas, Federal law requires that when a president calls members of a state National Guard into federal service, those orders “shall be issued through the Governors of the States…”; and

Whereas, In federalizing the California National Guard, President Trump cited a law that allows the President to call the National Guard into federal service when the nation faces a rebellion; and

Whereas, The anti-ICE protestors were not engaged in a rebellion against the United States; and

Whereas, Defense officials estimate that the deployment will cost United States taxpayers $134 million; and

Whereas, California governor Gavin Newson called the deployment of troops into Los Angeles “purposefully inflammatory”; and

Whereas, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass also condemned the deployment of troops to the city; and

Whereas, President Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, has vowed to ramp up ICE enforcement actions in sanctuary cities such as New York; and

Whereas, The Trump administration has said it was willing to send troops into other cities to assist with immigration enforcement; and

Whereas, Sending troops into Los Angles sets a precedent that could allow a President to send troops into New York city; and

Whereas, New York city has been the site of numerous ICE protests since the beginning of Trump’s presidency; and

Whereas, According to reporting by ABC News, President Trump has suggested the possibility of a federal takeover of New York city; and

Whereas, The deployment of federalized National Guard members into cities raises serious concerns about freedom of speech and freedom of assembly; and

Whereas, The deployment of federal troops into Los Angeles is an attack on the constitutionally protected right to protest; and

Whereas, The United States is a country governed by civil, not military, rule; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns the Trump administration’s use of a federalized national guard to repress free speech, militarize American cities and carry out his anti-immigrant agenda.

LS #19978

07/17/25

EHC