Recent Media Focus on Bloodshed in Los Angeles due to ICE Raids
Recently, Japanese media has extensively discussed the bloodshed in Los Angeles resulting from the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) crackdown on illegal immigrants. Several political observers have conducted in-depth analyses of President Trump’s hardline measures. Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in an attempt to quell the protests against ICE, adding thousands of additional troops, which has intensified the division in American society regarding illegal immigration. Could this series of military suppression actions evolve into a trigger for civil war in the United States? Below is a summary of key points from the Japanese media program ABEMA Prime.
A Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants Turns into a Military Standoff
Japanese media pointed out that Trump’s hardline policies on illegal immigration have shaken American society. Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, with an additional 700 new soldiers. The actions ordered by Trump have led to a direct confrontation with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who stated that the federal military deployment without state government permission is illegal. This is not just an immigration issue but also a struggle between the federal and local governments.
Guests on the program indicated that, despite Americans paying less attention to the news, large-scale protests have begun to emerge across the country since Monday. There is a serious divide in opinions regarding Trump’s handling of illegal immigration. Some argue, “Illegal is illegal; they should be deported,” while others point out that the law enforcement actions are excessively brutal, affecting even families without criminal records, such as migrant workers employed in restaurants.
Divided Public Opinion and Systemic Contradictions
Currently, there are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, many of whom have been paying taxes and establishing families for years. Among new immigrant families, about 7% have members with citizenship status. In states governed by the Democratic Party (such as California and the Northeast), inclusive immigration policies are generally adopted, while the southern and central regions, with stronger Republican influence, tend to be more hardline. However, these conservative areas also heavily rely on illegal immigrants for agricultural and low-skilled labor.
Historically, the U.S. has implemented “amnesty-style” immigration policies that legalize some illegal immigrants, but Trump’s immigration policies and military deployments reflect a conservative revolution aimed at reshaping order.
What is Trump’s Intent? Fulfilling Campaign Promises or Provoking Conflict?
Trump emphasized the argument of “maintaining order through military means” as early as 2016. He believes that the U.S. excessively uses military force overseas (such as in South Korea and Japan) and should strengthen domestic order maintenance. The recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in Los Angeles is, to some extent, a fulfillment of his campaign promises. Some commentators suggest that this move is aimed at undermining the reputation of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, thereby weakening his potential to run for president as a Democrat in 2028.
This strategy of militarizing and politicizing immigration issues is likely to further intensify social divisions. Especially in suburban and agricultural areas of California, even those opposing immigration heavily rely on their labor, creating internal contradictions that make the situation even more fragile.
Increasing Discontent Among the Public Towards Biden and the Democratic Party’s Immigration Policies
Japanese media has delved into the mindset of some Americans who support Trump’s nearly violent measures against illegal immigrants. Among this group are educated intellectuals who, due to the Democratic Party’s overly lenient policies towards illegal immigration, feel that a large number of illegal immigrants have taken their jobs, forcing them into service or labor positions. They feel marginalized by American society and hold widespread dissatisfaction with the policies under Democratic governance, believing that their rights as Americans have been stripped away. This accumulated anger towards the status quo is gradually becoming a core driving force behind support for Trump. If this sentiment is further manipulated by politicians, it could become fuel for social unrest.
Is Civil War Possible in the United States?
If we define “civil war” as extreme social divisions and increasing power conflicts between federal and local governments, then the current situation in the United States indeed possesses potential conditions for such an occurrence. When what originally belonged to the realm of institutional debate regarding illegal immigration policy transforms into bloody street protests, the threat of civil war is no longer merely a theoretical hypothesis but becomes part of the reality.
Trump’s immigration policy has far exceeded the issue of immigration itself; it touches upon the core of American national identity. Who is considered a “true American”? Who is entitled to govern this country and possess citizenship? When such questions become the main axis of political mobilization, it is not just the parties that are torn apart, but the entire nation.
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