Trump says he wants to send federalized troops to L.A., San Francisco

WASHINGTON— When President Trump ordered immigration raids in Los Angeles last June, only a handful of those arrested were violent criminals. The sweeps have divided families, cost businesses millions of dollars, and sent many undocumented residents into hiding.

Activists protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, prompting the president to deploy thousands of federal troops in what he called a security operation. A federal judge called it illegal and said the deployment caused “greater harm” to the city.

Now Trump wants it done again.

At a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Washington called on mayors and governors of many blue cities and states to allow troops to “come in and stop crime,” pointing to supposed successes in Memphis and New Orleans.

“Crime is down 75 percent in a short period of time,” Trump told his top advisers. “We can do this for Los Angeles, too, and frankly we can do this: SanFrancisco.”

The president has framed the deployments as a means to both fight crime and enforce immigration, saying federal authorities can remove people from cities in ways local authorities cannot.

“We can do this much more effectively because [local leaders] “We can’t do what we’re doing,” Trump said. “People come up to me all the time and say ‘thank you so much.’ I know right away what they’re talking about. They can walk to work.”

Trump also said this week that he would consider sending the National Guard to airports to help with security delays that have increased due to the 40-day partial government shutdown.

The renewed call follows a series of controversial federal interventions in cities across the country. In Washington, Trump has repeatedly touted a visible security presence near federal buildings, arguing that it improves public safety; but local officials and analysts have debated how much of any drop in crime can be attributed to his order.

In January, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to send troops into Minneapolis during civil unrest following the shooting death of Renee Good by a federal immigration agent. The Pentagon prepared active-duty troops for a possible deployment, but those troops were ordered to withdraw following the shooting of a second civilian, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis that same month.

Immigration operations in Los Angeles targeted businesses, neighborhoods and churches, sparking widespread panic and forcing many undocumented residents, including long-term residents and those with indigenous children, into hiding. As a result, businesses reported sharp declines in revenue and customer traffic. A county analysis found that 82% of businesses surveyed experienced negative impacts, with some losing more than half their revenue due to labor shortages and reduced traffic.

During the shooting, Mayor Karen Bass condemned Trump’s deployment of nearly 4,000 California National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines.

“The deployment of federal troops immediately following these raids is a chaotic escalation,” he said. “The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real; it’s being felt in our communities and families, and it’s putting our neighborhoods at risk. This is the last thing our city needs.”

The president canceled the invasion after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that control of the California National Guard should be given to the governor, rejecting the federal government’s authority to maintain control indefinitely. A similar Supreme Court decision effectively ended federalized distributions across the country.

“Judges are really hurting this country,” Trump said Thursday. “Frankly, the justices – the Supreme Court – have really hurt our country as well.”

During the meeting, Trump also narrowed down his comments about San Francisco and its mayor, Daniel Lurie.

“San Francisco was a great city, it can quickly become a great city again,” Trump said. “But we can do it much more effectively.”

Last year, Trump considered conducting similar federal law enforcement operations in the city. After a somewhat conciliatory phone call with Lurie, he backed down; In that conversation, Trump said the mayor “very politely” asked him to rescind the mandate. He later agreed to give the newly elected mayor “a chance” to fight crime in the city.

“Crime in San Francisco is down 30%, camping is at a record low, and our city is on the rise,” Lurie said Thursday. “Public safety is my number one priority and we will focus on keeping our streets safe and clean.”

A spokesman for Lurie’s office said the two had not spoken since their meeting in October, indicating that Trump’s latest remarks did not reflect any new demands or ongoing negotiations. Still, the president struck a measured tone against the San Francisco mayor on Thursday. He said Lurie was “trying too hard” but insisted that federal intervention would get the job done faster.

It is not yet known whether any Democrat-led city will accept Trump’s offer. City leaders have previously opposed federal mandates, arguing they undermine local control and risk exacerbating an already tense situation.

The White House did not respond to questions about whether there are current plans to redeploy federal troops to California cities.

Times writer Melissa Gomez in Los Angeles contributed to this report.