AILA Executive Director Condemns Violence and Trump Administration’s Abuse of Power in Response to LA Protests

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the Trump Administration’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles following protests against recent immigration enforcement actions, Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), issued the following statement:

“The protests erupting across Los Angeles are a direct response to the reality that can no longer be ignored: the mass deportation machine built by the Trump Administration is not designed to target criminals or protect public safety. It is an indiscriminate, quota-driven system focused on deporting as many people as possible, regardless of their ties to American families, communities, or businesses.

“Let me be clear: AILA condemns any acts of violence committed by protesters. Violence is never acceptable. ICE enforcement is terrorizing American communities, and it is leading to an escalation in tension that must be addressed. However, President Trump’s decision to unilaterally deploy the National Guard to California—without the state’s request and over Governor Newsom’s explicit warning to not do so—is an alarming abuse of power. It is part of a long, dangerous pattern: the erosion of constitutional norms, the consolidation of unchecked authority, and the weaponization of federal power against marginalized communities.

“This moment demands more than words. We call on Congress, the courts, and all Americans to take this threat seriously. The military must never be used as a tool of political convenience. Our Constitution must be upheld. Silence in the face of these abuses is complicity.

“AILA continues to advocate for a just, humane immigration system rooted in the rule of law and the values of due process, accountability, and human dignity.”