• Vice President JD Vance visits Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration protests against ICE raids.
• Vance supports the deployment of National Guard and Marines against Governor Newsom's objections.
• A federal appeals court upheld Trump's troop deployment in the city.
• Vance criticizes local Democratic leaders for not supporting law enforcement.

Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Los Angeles on Friday as he tours a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Center and meets with 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops recently deployed amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. His visit marks him as the highest-ranking Trump administration official since protests erupted over these immigration policies, which have sparked both conflict and significant public demonstrations in the city, according to CBS News and ABC News.

Vance's visit, aimed at reinforcing support for federal immigration actions, follows a recent federal appeals court ruling that allows President Trump to maintain control over the California National Guard troops, despite opposition from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump had deployed the Guard and Marines to Los Angeles amid escalating tensions due to immigration raids that caused public outcry, reinforcing Vance's viewpoint that the involvement of these troops is necessary, as indicated in Reuters and South China Morning Post.

During his visit, Vance criticized both Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for what he described as a failure to support law enforcement and for allegedly encouraging illegal immigration. He stated, "They have treated Border Patrol and border enforcement as somehow an illegitimate force," reinforcing his commitment to Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. This criticism aligns with ongoing tensions and debates regarding federal versus state authority in matters of law enforcement, a point noted by ABC News and Reuters.

In responding to Vance's accusations, a spokesperson for Governor Newsom labeled his claims as "categorically false," asserting that the Governor has publicly condemned violence associated with the protests and has advocated for accountability among those exploiting the situation. The political dynamics surrounding this troop deployment underscore a critical moment in U.S. immigration policy and the political landscape, discussed in detail by Reuters and South China Morning Post.