Voto Latino Condemns Trump’s Politicization of the National Guard While Breaking the Trust of the American People
This is not about public safety—it’s about political theater at the expense of hardworking families and violating civil rights
Washington, D.C. — Voto Latino strongly condemns the Trump administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard to California over the objections of the state’s leadership. This action represents a deeply troubling overreach of federal power—one that disrespects local law enforcement, places political ambitions above public safety, and directly harms immigrant communities already reeling from fear and discrimination.
The LAPD and California Highway Patrol are fully equipped and capable of handling public safety matters within the state. Calling in the National Guard is not only unnecessary, but a blatant attempt to politicize law enforcement and immigration. Using our military forces to enforce immigration priorities for headlines is a betrayal of public trust.
Peaceful protests have erupted across California, with residents expressing anguish and anger over indiscriminate ICE raids, mass deportation policies, and now, the arrival of armed military forces in their neighborhoods. In some cases, the National Guard has used tear gas and intimidation tactics against protesters and residents alike—escalating tensions instead of providing safety.
President Trump insists his administration is targeting criminals. In reality, he is targeting hardworking immigrants—mothers, fathers, neighbors—many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades. Worse, U.S. citizens have been mistakenly detained in ICE operations, swept up in chaotic enforcement efforts that lack oversight and accountability. No one is safe under these politically motivated actions.
This is a clear violation of public trust. If President Trump were serious about public safety, he would come to the table with honest, humane immigration policies that reflect the values and interests of the American people—not deploy troops to communities already under siege. Voto Latino welcomes that conversation.
According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of Latino immigrants say they worry about the deportation of themselves or someone close to them—a statistic that speaks to the widespread fear stoked by the Trump administration’s massive detentions and deportations policies.
Voto Latino calls on the Trump administration to immediately reverse its decision to deploy the National Guard and to work in good faith with local leaders—not against them. The American people did not vote for militarized immigration crackdowns or politically motivated shows of force. They voted for solutions rooted in fairness, humanity, and respect for civil rights. We stand with Californians who are raising their voices, defending their neighbors, and resisting the use of fear as policy. We urge all elected officials—regardless of party—to stand with them too.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.