Trump aggravates division in the US with violent confrontations against immigrants

The escalation of confrontations between Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies and California immigrant populations since Friday (6) reveals a presidential strategy focused on political confrontation, which becomes transparent to the rupture of the president’s boundaries with the United States’s constitutionality. By prioritizing an anti-immigrant rhetoric on public safety, claiming that actions aim to “protect Americans”, Trump harms both immigrants and local residents, consolidating a difficult hatred environment.

The three days of conflict in Los Angeles are not just an isolated episode, but part of a broader agenda of polarization and repression. While Trump seeks to affirm an image of “law and order”, the country witnesses a battle that puts in checks of US democracy: federalism, human rights, and separation of powers. The most visible effect that remains is the rupture with “law and order”, with increasingly violent polarization between republicans white suprematism and the climate of terror instituted against non -white and foreign populations.

Trump’s approach in California – marked by threats of federal funding cuts, national guard federalization and mass deportation operations – reveals a conflict -based government vision, not solutions. By turning immigrants into political enemies and states into opponents, it not only aggravates national divisions, but also compromises social and institutional cohesion.

Democrats assist impassive, capitalizing the crisis in silence, while Trump burns their chips without getting a positive agenda for their voters. To understand this scenario triggered over the weekend, you have to remember the escalation of events that begins with the explosion of revolt of textile industry workers persecuted in their work environments in Los Angeles, which led Trump to ignore the governor and send federal troops to repress the demonstrations in an unprecedented gesture. Trump also suggested threats against local democrats.

Day 1: Ice operations trigger revolt

On Friday (6), agents of the Immigration and Customs Service (ICE) held beats in factory factories in the Los Angeles Downtown District, holding dozens of indocmented immigrants. The action, part of an expanded campaign to increase daily deportations, generated immediate protests. Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the federal building where immigrant workers are arrested and treated as dangerous bandits, requiring the end of operations.

Police used pepper gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in more than one hundred arrests, including David Huerta, a trade union leader who blocked Ice vehicles. Huerta’s arrest intends to have a symbolic character. Hospitalized after confrontations, he was transferred to federal custody and will face accusations of obstruction.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for respect for due process after arrests of Mexican citizens. The governor of California Gavin Newsom condemned the operation, stating that he “harms communities and diverts resources from serious crimes.”

Day 2: Trump federalizes with the National Guard and tension scale

On Saturday (June 7), Trump ordered the sending of 2,000 California National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles, ignoring the opposition of Governor Newsom. The measure, seen as unconstitutional By experts, it allowed troops to support federal operations but do not perform police actions.

Paramount clashes: Protesters surrounded a home depot store, home and construction products retailer, where ICE agents worked, launching objects and burning up autonomous vehicles from Waymo, a taxi company linked to Google, big tech Trump’s supporter. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, while Trump stated: “Let’s flood the zone [com tropas e agentes federais]. Sanctuary cities [que não colaboram com as políticas anti-imigração] will pay the price. ”

Mayor Karen Bass criticized the decision: “Trump wants everyone to think Los Angeles is on fire. But the real emergency is himself.” Newsom announced that he will sue the federal government: “He has federated the guard to manufacture chaos. We will stop him.”

Day 3: widespread violence and federal retaliation

On Sunday (June 8), the protests spread to Compton and Paramount, with protesters attacking police vehicles and burning barricades. Authorities dispersed groups in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center, using less lethal ammunition and holding 27 people.

A peaceful protest in San Francisco, in solidarity with the Los Angeles immigrants, also degenerated in violence, with 60 prisoners after clashes with the police.

The president threatened to invoke the Insurrection lawwhich would allow direct police actions of the National Guard. On the social network Truth Social, Trump wrote, “No one will spit on our police or military. If it happens, they will be punished hard.”

The manufacture of a crisis: when politics supersedes reality

Trump turned Los Angeles into an ideological battlefield, using immigration operations and sending the National Guard to ignite tensions in a state ruled by Democrats. The official justification – combat an alleged “rebellion” against the federal authority – contrasts with reality: peaceful protests and deportation operations focused on informal workers, such as those who meet in home depot stores. The chaos narrative, experts, according to experts, is a political construction to mobilize its electoral base, ignoring data showing that 70% of Californians see immigrants as “benefits to the state.”

National Guard Federalization: an unprecedented abuse of power

In federalizing the California National Guard against the will of Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump broke with decades of constitutional tradition that respect state autonomy. The measure, which had not occurred since 1965, was criticized as “unconstitutional” and “immoral”, with Newsom announcing lawsuits to block the intervention. The decision also exposes a confrontation strategy: to use the federal machine to punish states that challenge its agenda, as highlighted by Los Angeles police commander himself, Paul Luna: “Most immigrants are essential workers. This is not a crisis, it is persecution.”

Repression and retaliation: the human cost of protests

Ice (immigration and customs) beats in workplaces, such as the home depot store in Paramount, revealed the government’s ideological priority: deporting indocmented immigrants, regardless of criminal history. Zander Calderon, a 36 -year -old protester, denounced cases of self -modeled neighbors: “This is not public security, it is psychological terror.” Paradoxically, local authorities claim that operations have destabilized communities and diverted resources from violent crime.

Young Brianna Vargas, 24, protested in solidarity with immigrant parents: “It’s different to be here than to post something on Instagram.” While the government highlighted videos of violence to justify its response, most protests remained peaceful, with protesters carrying flags of Mexico and El Salvador – symbols used by Trump as “proof” of a “foreign invasion.”

Climbing consequences

Judicialization: California will start lawsuits to contest the National Guard federalization, supported by the American Union for Civil Freedoms (ACLU).

New wave of protests: Union leaders and human rights groups summoned demonstrations in Sacramento and Los Angeles for this Monday (June 9).

International Pressure: Mexico and global organizations intensify criticism of US deportation policy, classified as “inhuman.”

Electoral Impact: The crisis may benefit Trump with its conservative base, but risks alienating moderate voters concerned with abuse of power. Democratic governors, such as Newsom, gain the scene to position themselves as immigration advocates. Cities like Glendale broke agreements with Ice to house detainees, while anti-Trump feeling is strengthened.

Institutional risk: The instrumentalization of the National Guard and the threat of using the Insurrection Law rekindles debates on the limits of the executive branch. Mayor Karen Bass criticized the government’s “deliberate provocation”, which turned local police into criticism of their association with federal operations.

Democratic risks : The instrumentalization of migratory crises to expand presidential powers rekindles debates on the limits of the constitution in times of polarization.