Hello, Today's newsletter focuses on the days of unrest seen in California, United States, over President Donald Trump's immigration policies after the White House deployed National Guard troops and 700 Marines to California after days of protests by hundreds of demonstrators against immigration raids. The military and federal enforcement operations have further polarized the United States' two major political parties as Trump, a Republican, threatened to arrest California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, for resisting the federal crackdown. Click here to keep up with all the latest Reuters stories on immigration. California sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines, arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty. Los Angeles is also a sanctuary city, which means that it adopts policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, aiming to protect undocumented migrants from deportation. The LA protests intersect with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in several ways – particularly through themes of social justice, human rights, equitable treatment, and workers' rights – all of which are central to the 'Social' pillar of ESG and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). Also on my radar today: |
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Police fire flashbangs at demonstrators behind a barricade during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. REUTERS/David Ryder |
For context, the Trump administration sent federal agents who usually hunt down child abusers and diverted them from their regular duties to bolster the president's immigration crackdown, Reuters reported exclusively in March. Click here to re-visit the full story. California National Guard troops and Marines were deployed to the streets of Los Angeles due to the protests which flared up after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stepped up their raids. Trump pledged to deport record numbers of people in the country illegally and lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting ICE a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day. Census data suggests a significant number of the population in Democratic-run Los Angeles is Hispanic and foreign-born. The Trump administration's immigration enforcement measures have also included residents who are in the country legally, some with permanent residence, spurring legal challenges. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the U.S. government over the immigration raids and National Guard deployment. "The phenomenon will not be addressed with raids or violence. It will be by sitting down and working on comprehensive reform," Sheinbaum said at a public event. The last time the military was used for direct police action under the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked President George H.W. Bush to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King. |
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Trump has tried to justify the use of the National Guard troops and Marines, saying that the protests interfered with federal law enforcement and framing them as a possible "form of rebellion" against the authority of the U.S. government. Trump cited Title 10 of the U.S. Code, a federal law that outlines the role of the U.S. Armed Forces, in his June 7 order to call members of the National Guard into federal service. The law is used if the U.S. is invaded, there is a "rebellion or danger of rebellion", or the president is "unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." Title 10 also says the "orders for these purposes shall be issued through the governors of the States." California's lawsuit said the deployment of troops in the state without the governor's consent violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment, which protects states' rights. An 1878 law, the Posse Comitatus Act, generally forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to assembly, freedom of speech and the press. Legal experts have said that Trump's decision to have U.S. troops respond to protests is an ominous sign for how far the president is willing to go to repress political speech and activity that he disagrees with or that criticises his administration's policies. |
Mary Dotson hugs Eastside Community Ministry employee Jevonne Reese, at the food pantry where she volunteers and also relies on in Zanesville, Ohio, U.S. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein |
- U.S. food funding cuts: In a state that handed Trump three straight wins, where Trump flags flap near food aid flyers pinned on bulletin boards, the cost of his austerity push is starting to show in Ohio. For decades, food banks like Mid-Ohio have been the backbone of the nation's anti-hunger system, channeling government support and donations from corporations and private donors into meals and logistics to support pantries at churches, non-profits and other organizations. Click here for the full Reuters special report.
- LA wildfires: Southern California Edison's internal wildfire forecasts underestimated the potential size of the Eaton Canyon fire in Los Angeles by a factor of 10 in the days leading up to the deadly fires in January, which suggests potential weaknesses in the utility's fire modeling capabilities, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. SCE has said the cause and circumstances around the fire are under investigation and will be for some time and defended its modeling capabilities.
- Indigenous wildfire evacuees: Canada's Manitoba province is struggling with its largest-ever fire evacuation effort, with Indigenous communities being hit especially hard. Although First Nations people make up only around 5% of Canada's population, they are among the most affected by this year's wildfires. Indigenous leaders in Manitoba have criticized both federal and provincial governments for inadequate communication and delays in delivering requested resources during the wildfire crisis. Click here for the full Reuters story.
- UN Oceans Treaty: The international treaty on the high seas, which focuses on conservation and sustainable use of maritime areas beyond national jurisdictions, has received sufficient support to take effect early in 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice.
- Gaza aid: The rate of young children suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza has nearly tripled since a ceasefire earlier this year when aid flowed more freely, according to data collected by humanitarian groups. Aid distribution in the Palestinian enclave is under intense scrutiny because of deadly shootings close to the operations of a new U.S.-backed system.
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Humanitarian crisis: Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, the day after the country's navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. The British-flagged yacht, Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had aimed to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. |
People attend the "International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom" in support of LGBTQ+ rights as part of WorldPride in Washington, D.C., U.S. REUTERS/Leah Millis |
Before diving into today's spotlight on the WorldPride parade, I have to flag my colleague Kate Turton's upcoming limited-run weekly newsletter focusing on innovative ideas and solutions-based journalism. Click here to sign up for the Reuters Beacon and check it out. Now, back to WorldPride, where LGBTQ+ people and supporters from around the world marched through the streets of Washington over the weekend with a mixture of joyful celebration and a show of defiance in the face of Trump's rollback of LGBTQ+ rights. Parade-goers pledged to preserve remaining rights and fight the Republican president's agenda. "We're going backwards," said Patricia Johnson, 70, who works for a non-profit group supporting seniors in Washington. "But never give up hope." |
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Sustainable Switch was edited by Emelia Sithole-Matarise. |
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