Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger has issued a dire warning amid swirling speculation that Donald Trump might invoke the centuries-old Insurrection Act.
The uproar began in Los Angeles when federal immigration authorities launched a series of high-profile raids across the city. These operations, targeting undocumented immigrants, were conducted in areas with significant Latino populations, including Paramount and the Fashion District. Over 100 individuals have reportedly been detained, and the raids have left communities reeling.
Things escalated when protests broke out in response to these actions, with tensions boiling over near a Home Depot south of Los Angeles. Federal agents in riot gear faced off against angry protesters, who hurled rocks, cement chunks, and other projectiles. In retaliation, the agents deployed tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper balls, resulting in a chaotic scene of smoke, shouting, and scattered fires in the streets.
As the clashes intensified, California Governor Gavin Newsom stepped in, denouncing the federal government’s actions as “inflammatory” and accusing them of deliberately provoking unrest. Newsom, a Democrat, urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning that any escalation would only “play into the hands” of those seeking to sow division. But his calls for calm have done little to quell the unrest — or the speculation about Trump’s next move.
Signed into law in 1807, the Insurrection Act grants the president the authority to deploy military forces domestically in cases of rebellion, insurrection, or obstruction of federal law. But here’s the catch: it’s a tool of last resort, meant for moments when all other mechanisms of maintaining order have failed. Historically, it’s been invoked in extraordinary circumstances, such as enforcing desegregation in the South during the Civil Rights Movement or responding to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Using the Insurrection Act to suppress protests, however, would be a controversial move, especially in a case like this where local and state officials — including Governor Newsom—are actively opposing federal intervention. What’s really at stake here isn’t just the situation in Los Angeles — it’s the precedent this sets.
If Trump can invoke the Insurrection Act to quell protests in one city, what’s stopping him from doing the same elsewhere? And what does this mean for the future of American democracy? Are we really okay with the idea of a president using military force to suppress dissent? Because make no mistake: that’s what this is about. It’s not about “restoring order” or “enforcing the law.” It’s about control.
Published: Jun 8, 2025 10:53 am