WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Protests Against Donald Trump’s Deportations Erupt in Los Angeles
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Jun 9, 2025 Alicia Finley and Mene Ukwe Barua, both seasoned analysts of immigration policy, dive into the escalating protests in Los Angeles against Donald Trump’s deportation tactics. They discuss the National Guard's involvement and the implications of potentially invoking the Insurrection Act. The duo explores how Governor Gavin Newsom might leverage this political turmoil for his ambitions, while also analyzing the internal conflicts within the Democratic Party as they tackle public sentiment amid increasing unrest.
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Broader Deportation Impact
- Trump's administration is expanding deportation efforts from criminals to a broader group including long-term residents.
- This expansion could have significant economic and community impacts due to the large population affected.
Public Opinion and Internal Conflict
- Public support for deporting criminals is strong but diminishes for law-abiding immigrants.
- Internally, there is a conflict between focusing on criminals and mass deportation within the Trump administration.
Resource Limits Shape Strategy
- ICE lacks resources to detain and deport all targeted immigrants, making large-scale deportation impractical.
- The strategy aims more to deter and scare unauthorized immigrants into voluntary departure.