Vice President JD Vance is set to make his presence known in Los Angeles come Friday, where he will connect with federal law enforcement and U.S. Marines involved in the tumultuous immigration enforcement operations. According to NBC Los Angeles, Vance's itinerary includes a tour of a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Center and a Federal Mobile Command Center, alongside meetings with leadership teams and personnel on the ground.
This high-profile visit comes amid an uneasy climate in the city. Just the day prior, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted President Trump to sustain his command of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, thwarting a prior legal challenge that ascribed the activation as illegal. The White House said in a statement obtained by NBC Los Angeles that this keeps control of the California National Guard under federal jurisdiction, despite Governor Gavin Newsom's objections and a lawsuit against the administration's actions.
In Los Angeles and other cities, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have intensified their efforts, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller stating a goal of at least 3,000 arrests a day. As per CBS News, the actual figures have fallen short, averaging around 1,200 arrests daily so far in June. The vice president is also scheduled to make brief remarks during his visit.
Simultaneously, President Trump continues to manage international affairs, particularly the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. A statement mentioned by CBS News revealed that Trump plans to decide on whether the U.S. will support Israel with military strikes in the coming fortnights. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom and other state officials view the federal deployment not only as an overreach, but also a breach of state sovereignty amid contentious legal disputes over immigration policies.
Despite the protests, Trump took to Truth Social to commend the Ninth Circuit Court's decision, saying: "BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard!" Trump's statement, reported by FOX News Digital, celebrated the judgement as a victory in protecting and defending law-abiding Americans. Vance's visit, therefore, is not just about overseeing operations but also about demonstrating the administration's commitment to its immigration enforcement strategy.
