California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has criticized President Donald Trump’s military response to protests related to federal immigration policy in Los Angeles, labeling it an affront to democracy. Concurrently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has positioned the National Guard on standby for planned demonstrations in specific areas of his state.
These contrasting strategies reflect the differing tactics between the political parties as they maneuver through national politics and the executive power in enforcing immigration laws. Newsom, in a televised address, claimed that Trump’s actions intensified the situation for political purposes. Subsequently, a judge ruled in favor of Newsom’s lawsuit challenging the military deployment by placing a temporary restraining order on it, instructing Trump to restore control of the National Guard to California. The administration quickly appealed this decision.
Moreover, all the Democratic governors issued a statement through the Democratic Governors Association supporting Newsom, condemning the deployment and threats to introduce Marines, calling it a significant misuse of power. This, they stated, undermines the mission of service members and erodes public trust. Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association declared that their Democratic peers were backing disorder in the streets over law and order.
In Los Angeles, the protests have largely been confined to a limited downtown area, leading to nearly 200 arrests and some police injuries. Republican-led state governors have not provided details on when or how they would deploy military forces for protests.
Since Trump’s inauguration, Democratic governors have been strategic about when and how to challenge him. These reactions are influenced by political considerations, said Kristoffer Shields from the Eagleton Center on the American Governor, contemplating how criticism of Trump might affect their standing among voters and potential presidential aspirations.
Reports suggest about half of the public approved of Trump’s handling of immigration before recent military actions. On other matters, Democratic governors have occasionally shown resistance to Trump. For example, Maine Governor Janet Mills threatened legal action against the administration over its funding stance related to transgender athlete policies. Similarly, Governor Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has engaged with Trump, sometimes privately to seek common ground.
In contrast, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who had previously criticized Trump, adopted a more cautious approach in subsequent months, aiming to avoid further confrontation.
Democratic governors addressed Congress on sanctuary policies, criticizing the military presence in Los Angeles. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized adherence to immigration laws while supporting First Amendment rights, voicing opposition to military deployment in U.S. cities without local law enforcement consent. New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued for comprehensive immigration reform, deeming the militarization of American cities against governors’ wishes a blatant abuse of power.
Across the aisle, Republican governors such as Florida’s Ron DeSantis have often found themselves at odds with Newsom. While DeSantis offered Florida State Guard troops to California, the offer was declined. He later rationalized his offer as mutual aid during a crisis, dismissing the refusal.
States are preparing for further protests against immigration enforcement raids, and demonstrations called “No Kings” are planned for the weekend. Governors are mapping out responses. In Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont coordinated with law enforcement to avert federal intervention. In Texas, Abbott has arranged for over 5,000 National Guard troops and 2,000 police officers to manage the situation.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s Governor Mike Kehoe activated the National Guard in anticipation of continued unrest. Florida’s DeSantis has also warned that law enforcement is ready to respond swiftly to any civil disorder.