Trump’s National Guard orders draw sharp rebuke from Nevada Democrats

National Guard members federalized by President Donald Trump stand guard Tuesday, June 10, 2025, along a street near protesters and Trump supporters in Santa Ana, Calif. Photo by: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

The political divide over President Donald Trump’s deployment of California National Guard troops to assist in managing ongoing protests in Los Angeles has extended to Nevada.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford joined fellow Democratic attorneys general from across the country Wednesday to condemn Trump’s decision to bypass California Gov. Gavin Newsom and ordering the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

“The federal administration should be working with local leaders to keep everyone safe, not mobilizing the military against the American people,” the coalition of 18 attorneys general wrote. “We oppose any action from this administration that will sow chaos, inflame tensions and put people’s lives at risk — including those of our law enforcement officers.”

They also expressed support for California Attorney General Rob Bonta in his legal challenge against the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard, which Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass also oppose.

The protests were sparked by a surge in immigration enforcement targeting undocumented workers. The protests also resulted in the arrest of California labor leader David Huerta.

The demonstrations have largely been peaceful, according to local media, though there have been incidents of property damage, including a Waymo self-driving car being set on fire and scuffles with law enforcement.

A handful of other Nevada Democrats, such as Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., have also criticized the administration’s use of the National Guard.

“His immigration policies are sowing chaos and division in our communities throughout the country,” Titus wrote on social media Monday. “Federalizing the National Guard, mobilizing the Marines, and calling for the arrest of a Governor will escalate an already tense situation.”

The Nevada Republican Party, however, has supported the administration’s actions, reposting statements from White House officials claiming that America has been “invaded by illegal aliens” and that Trump was elected to “end the invasion.”

The Nevada GOP also republished the president’s Truth Social post calling LA “occupied” by undocumented immigrants and criminals.

“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve,” Trump wrote. “Order will be restored, illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”

Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald did not respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., called Huerta’s arrest illegal.

SEIU has maintained that Huerta was serving as a community observer during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid. He has since been charged with conspiracy to impede an officer.

At a Monday rally demanding that charges against the union president be dropped and that ICE raids across the country come to an end, state Sen. Edgar Flores, D-Las Vegas, and an immigration lawyer, said the Trump administration was feeding on division.

“Them sending in the military, I asked myself, ‘Why aren’t they sending the military for the thousands of people that are unhoused?’ Where’s the war against that?” Flores asked the over 100 people in the crowd. “We have an obligation to fight back.”

Assemblymember Cecelia González, D-Las Vegas, expressed her frustration online that some people cared more about property damage than “people’s families and lives being ripped apart.”

González, chair of the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus, told the Sun that she doesn’t agree with people’s businesses being destroyed, but that “it’s very unsettling when people empathize with things that are not even living. We’re literally talking about human beings.”

She also raised other concerns about immigration enforcement under Trump.

“Why are federal agents wearing masks?” she asked. “How do I even know you’re a legitimate federal agent or not? When you have just this unleashed chaos in our nation right now, it’s absurd. It’s scary.”