The Arab American Civic Council condemns the federal deployment of national guard troops to Los Angeles as an unconstitutional abuse of power. The militarized actions, marked by armored vehicles, heavily armed troops, and violence against civilians including protestors, immigrants, and journalists—represents a grave threat to our democracy and civil liberties.

We urge elected officials at all levels, including local leaders, to speak out decisively and take immediate action to protect their communities from federal overreach and repression.

For many Arab immigrants, these scenes evoke painful memories of authoritarian regimes where military force was routinely used to silence dissent. The current administration’s actions mirror the tactics of dictatorships abroad and raise deep concern about the direction of this country. If these aggressive and authoritarian policies continue unchecked, the United States risks sliding further away from its democratic ideals.

Arab immigrants are not exempt from federal targeting. Let’s not forget that the U.S. government created ICE in part to surveil, detain, and deport Arab and Muslim immigrants under the guise of national security. To illustrate the continued impacts of immigration enforcement on Arabs, in May, an Arab immigrant was arrested by ICE and deported from Orange County. This incident has heightened fear within California’s Arab community, leading many to remain indoors out of concern for their safety. These fears are further intensified by the current administration’s ongoing overreach and abuse of power.