West
GOV GAVIN NEWSOM: Trump is trying to destroy our democracy. Do not let him
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Over the past two weeks, federal agents conducted large-scale workplace raids around Southern California. They jumped out of unmarked vans, indiscriminately grabbing people off the street, chasing people in agricultural fields. A woman, 9 months pregnant, was arrested in LA; she had to be hospitalized after being released. A family with three children, including a three-year-old, was held for two days in an office basement without sufficient food or water.
Several people taken in the raids were deported the same day they were arrested, raising serious due process concerns. U.S. citizens have been harassed and detained. And we know that ICE is increasingly detaining thousands of people with no other criminal charges or convictions: Those arrested with no other criminal charges or convictions rose from about 860 in January to 7,800 this month – a more than 800% increase. Meanwhile, those arrested and detained with criminal charges or convictions rose at the much lower rate of 91%. Trump is lying about focusing on “the worst of the worst.”
While California is no stranger to immigration enforcement, what we’re seeing is a dangerous ploy for headlines by an administration that believes in cruelty and intimidation. Instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and border security – a strategy both parties have long supported – the Trump administration is pushing mass deportations, targeting hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risk, in order to meet quotas.
NEWSOM SAYS LOS ANGELES RIOTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED, SLAMS TRUMP FOR ‘TRAUMATIZING OUR COMMUNITIES’
In response, everyday Californians came out last week, and by the tens of thousands just this last Saturday, to protest their government’s actions – to exercise their constitutional right to free speech and assembly.
Our system of democracy was created in direct opposition to the monarchy and designed to bolster individual freedom and liberty so that we are never again subjugated to a king. It is that idea, that sacred value, that is being destroyed.
California, the home of the free speech movement, is no stranger to such demonstrations. Our law enforcement officers are well-trained to provide security, ensure order, and intervene when necessary. Last weekend, state and local authorities deployed law enforcement officers, including those from the California Highway Patrol, the LAPD, and the sheriff’s department. Although there were incidents of violence and property damage, state and local law enforcement officials restored and maintained order.
Those who become violent and destructive – vandalizing property, trying to attack police officers – will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We do not tolerate criminal behavior.
TRUMP AND NEWSOM ON COLLISION COURSE AS FIGHT OVER NATIONAL GUARD INTENSIFIES IN COURT
But we know that President Donald Trump is not opposed to lawlessness and violence, so long as it serves him. His supposed concern for the men and women in uniform is not based on their loyalty to this country and its people, but to him and his cause. What more evidence do we need than January 6 – and his pardons for those involved, including those who violently assaulted police officers that day?
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an address on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Office of California Governor via AP)
So it’s no surprise that – without any request or input from me – he illegally commandeered 4,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets. It was only five years ago that President Trump himself said: “We have to go by the laws … we can’t call in the National Guard, unless we are requested by a governor.”
Then, at a moment best timed to further inflame the situation, he deployed more than 700 active duty U.S. Marines. These are men and women trained in foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement. We honor their service and their bravery. But we do not want our streets militarized by our own Armed Forces. With this act, President Trump has betrayed our soldiers, the American people, and our core traditions; soldiers are being ordered to patrol the very same American communities they swore to protect in wars overseas.
The deployment of federal soldiers in L.A. doesn’t protect our communities – it traumatizes them. Kids are afraid to attend their own graduations. People are afraid to go to work. They are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, and seamstresses. These are not criminals, these are families; this is not public safety, this is tyranny.
RETIRED JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER’S BROTHER ASSIGNED TO NEWSOM NATIONAL GUARD LAWSUIT
California will continue to fight on behalf of all our people, including in the courts. The president knows it, that’s why he’s attacking us so aggressively. We’ve filed 26 lawsuits against the Trump administration, and already, we’ve successfully secured a federal court order calling out Trump’s illegal takeover of the California National Guard and militarization of Los Angeles.
This is still far from over.
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer granted an emergency temporary restraining order to stop President Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the California State Supreme Court building in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting the most vulnerable. But they do not stop there. Trump and his loyalists thrive on division because it allows them to consolidate power and exert even greater control. If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe.
We are in a perilous moment. We have a sitting president who believes he is bound by no law, including our Constitution. In just over 140 days, he has fired government watchdogs that could hold him accountable for corruption and fraud. He’s declared war on culture, on history, on science, and on knowledge itself. Databases are disappearing, archives are being raided, and universities are being told what they can teach. The judicial branch and the rule of law are under siege. Journalists and news organizations are targets.
This is about far more than L.A. It’s about more than California. This is about all of us – it’s about you.
U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following an immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
When Donald Trump asserted blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation. California may be first, but it won’t be the last. Other states are next. Democracy is next.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
His administration has manhandled and handcuffed U.S. Senator Alex Padilla for asking the Secretary of Homeland Security a question. For doing his job. Newark Mayor Ras Barakawas was arrested as he accompanied members of Congress to inspect a federal immigration detention center. Rep. LaMonica McIver has now been indicted in connection with the same incident.
Our system of democracy was created in direct opposition to the monarchy and designed to bolster individual freedom and liberty so that we are never again subjugated to a king. It is that idea, that sacred value, that is being destroyed.
But our greatest strength has always been with the people. It’s time for all of us to stand up.
Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said it best: “In a democracy, the most important political office is that of the private citizen.” Not the office of the president, nor of the governor. But it is you, the people, who are most important. It is your voice that should be loudest.
Many of you are feeling deep anxiety, stress, and fear. But you are the antidote to that fear and anxiety. What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence.
Do not give in to him. Do not let him win. If we stand together, as neighbors, as communities, as states, we will win.
This column is adapted from Gov. Newsom’s “Democracy at a Crossroads” address on June 10.
Read the full article from Here
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A man is dead after a brutal stabbing inside a San Francisco hospital and now federal immigration officials are pointing squarely at California’s sanctuary policies and the Biden administration’s border decisions as contributing factors.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is urging Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials not to release the suspect, a Venezuelan national in the country illegally who had previously been encountered and released by Border Patrol.
Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi is accused of fatally stabbing 51-year-old Alberto Rangel inside Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on December 4. Rangel succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 6.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE has already lodged a detainer request to keep Tortolero-Arriechi in custody — a request that now hangs in the balance in a state that has repeatedly clashed with federal immigration enforcement.
DHS TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER ARRESTING OVER 10K ILLEGAL ALIENS IN DEEP BLUE CITY DESPITE VIOLENT RIOTS
Alberto Rangel, 51, died after being stabbed inside Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 2025. (Department of Homeland Security)
“If it weren’t for the Biden administration’s reckless open-border policies, Alberto Rangel would still be alive,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement, directly tying the killing to federal immigration policy. She also called on Newsom to ensure the suspect is not released, blasting sanctuary policies that she says “put American lives at risk.”
The suspect had reportedly displayed alarming behavior in the weeks leading up to the attack, allegedly threatening hospital staff and his own doctor before the deadly stabbing unfolded.
EXCLUSIVE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED UNDER BIDEN ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ ALLEGEDLY KILLS DRIVER IN POLICE CHASE
Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi, a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally, is charged in the fatal stabbing of Alberto Rangel at a San Francisco hospital. (Department of Homeland Security)
Federal officials say Tortolero-Arriechi was first encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in 2023 and then released into the country. The case is adding new fuel to the fight over California’s sanctuary policies.
Earlier this year, ICE revealed that more than 33,000 criminal illegal immigrants are currently in custody across California with active detainers, including individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault and drug trafficking.
Despite that, officials say thousands have been released.
GOT A TIP?
Since January 2026 alone, California jurisdictions have declined to honor ICE detainers in more than 4,500 cases, according to the agency. Those releases included individuals tied to dozens of homicides, hundreds of assaults and a wide range of other violent and drug-related offenses, ICE said.
FOLLOW US ON X
The latest push from federal officials builds on earlier warnings. In February, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging him to “put the safety of Americans first” by honoring detainers for more than 33,000 criminal illegal immigrants in state custody.
Lyons warned that “no community serious about keeping its residents safe will tolerate a clear aberration of the law,” pressing California officials to cooperate with ICE and take “the worst of the worst off the streets.”
Meanwhile, Alberto Rangel’s death is now being used by federal officials to underscore what they argue are the real-world consequences of those policies.
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is being criticized by angel mother Agnes Gibboney (far right), whose son, Ronald da Silva, was killed by an illegal immigrant gang member in 2002. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; White House)
Newsom’s office pushed back on that characterization, saying the state’s approach prioritizes accountability and public safety.
“If someone commits a serious crime, they should be held accountable in our justice system,” a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital. “Allowing someone to evade responsibility simply by being deported undermines the rule of law and completely disrespects the victims harmed by that crime. Our focus must always be to ensure those who commit violent acts face their consequences here.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Jan. 20, 2026, that a criminal illegal alien allegedly weaponized his vehicle to ram law enforcement officers in Compton, Calif., in an attempt to evade arrest. (KTTV)
The governor’s office also pointed to California’s record of cooperating with federal immigration authorities in certain cases, noting that, since 2019, the state has coordinated the transfer of more than 12,000 individuals, including those convicted of serious and violent crimes, into ICE custody.
Officials added that state law allows coordination with ICE for individuals convicted of serious felonies or those facing credible charges, and said California does not interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
They also argued that federal authorities do not always take custody of individuals when detainers are issued, claiming ICE fails to pick up roughly one in eight people released from state prisons who have immigration holds.
Tortolero-Arriechi remains in custody at the San Francisco County Jail, where he faces homicide and weapons charges, as pressure mounts on California leaders over whether they will comply with federal requests to keep him there.
In a statement issued after his death in December 2025, SEIU Local 521 Chief Elected Officer Riko Mendez said, “Our hearts are with the family, friends, and coworkers of Alberto Rangel,” remembering him as a dedicated social worker.
On a night when the Atlanta Hawks’ season ended with a 51-point beating from the New York Knicks, the Denver Nuggets may have managed to outdo them on the “embarrassing closeout losses” scale.
The Minnesota Timberwolves played Thursday’s Game 6 without Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, and they still bullied their way to a 110-98 victory.
And the Nuggets’ 2025-26 season is now over.
After entering it with title aspirations, Denver could easily be seen as one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams. They were seventh in the league in regular-season net rating and 21st in defensive rating. They got embarrassed by a lower seed in the first round.
Yes, injuries had their say. Nikola Jokić, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson all missed significant time. Gordon and Watson didn’t play in Thursday’s Game 6.
But even with that context in mind, Denver came up well shy of its potential. And that could mean a dramatic summer.
Given the Nuggets’ early exits from each of the last three postseasons, few would bat an eye over anything short of a Jokić trade. But it may be difficult to truly overhaul the roster through trades.
The last two front offices have already spent pretty much every available trade asset. So, what should be the priorities in this between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place offseason? The answer is below.
With the calendar flipping to May and first month of the MLB season in the books, it’s a good time to check in on some notable former Seattle Mariners to see how they’re doing with new teams.
How Seattle Mariners’ ABS usage stacks up with rest of MLB
As it turns out, a number of players who were with the Mariners last season and on new teams this year are currently injured, including some names that didn’t make the cut for the list below like Caleb Ferguson and Tyler Locklear.
Below is a look at how several notable former Mariners have fared through the first month of the 2026 campaign.
Jorge Polanco
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets during the offseason, got off to a slow start with his new team and is currently on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist contusion. He was also playing through left Achilles bursitis before landing on the IL.
In 14 games, the switch-hitting Polanco is slashing .179/.246/.286 with a .532 OPS, one homer, three doubles, five walks and 11 strikeouts.
Eugenio Suárez
Suárez, a fan favorite in Seattle who signed a one-year, $15 million deal to return to the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason, was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left oblique strain. Before landing on the IL, he was also off to a bit of a slow start.
In 25 games, Suárez is slashing .231/.300/.363 with a .663 OPS, three homers, three doubles, nine walks and 30 strikeouts.
Harry Ford
Ford, who was traded to the Washington Nationals in an offseason deal that brought left-hander Jose A. Ferrer to Seattle, was assigned to Triple-A at the start of the season and has struggled at the plate early on.
In 20 games with Triple-A Rochester, he’s slashing .182/.289/.221 with a .510 OPS, three doubles, 10 walks and 26 strikeouts. Ford produced an .868 OPS and hit 16 homers in 97 games with Triple-A Tacoma last year.
Leody Taveras
Taveras, who struggled to find his footing in 28 games with the Mariners last season, isn’t necessarily a notable former Mariner, but he stands out due to the rebound season he’s starting to put together with the Baltimore Orioles following two rough years at the plate.
After signing a one-year deal with Baltimore in the offseason, Taveras is slashing .288/.397/.455 with an .852 OPS, two homers, three doubles, one triple, 12 walks and 16 strikeouts. He’s also tied for third on the team with 17 RBIs.
Tayler Saucedo
Saucedo, a product of Maple Valley’s Tahoma High School, was designated for assignment during the offseason before signing a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He is currently pitching for Triple-A Salt Lake.
Saucedo has a 4.85 ERA and has struck out 13 batters over 13 innings in 11 appearances. He’s allowed seven runs on 12 hits and 10 walks.
Dylan Moore
Moore, who was the longest-tenured Mariners player when he was released amid a career-worst slump in August 2025, signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies over the offseason and was awarded a major-league deal after opting out of his initial contract in March.
Moore is still in search of his first hit with the Phillies. He’s 0 for 11 at the plate with three walks and five strikeouts in 13 games.
Trent Thornton
Thornton, who missed the final two months of last season with a torn left Achilles, elected free agency after being non-tendered by the M’s over the offseason. He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs and was recently activated to Triple-A Iowa for his first game action since the Achilles injury.
In two outings (one start), Thornton has struck out four batters and allowed one run on three hits and one walk over 3 2/3 innings.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• How can Kade Anderson help Seattle Mariners this year? Passan’s take
• Two things we know, two questions we have a month into Mariners’ season
• Where things stand with Seattle Mariners’ Brendan Donovan, Bryce Miller
• Seattle Mariners’ Matt Brash details side issue, doesn’t think it’s serious
• White Sox call up Jarred Kelenic before playing Seattle Mariners next week
-
Politics3 minutes agoAuthorities Release Video of Gunman in White House Correspondents’ Dinner Attack
-
Business9 minutes agoStocks and Oil Prices Sent Conflicting Signals in April Amid Havoc of Iran War
-
Science15 minutes agoThe Vaccine Skeptic in Trump’s New C.D.C. Leadership Team
-
Health21 minutes agoTop Psychiatrists Call for a Greater Focus on Ceasing Medication
-
Culture33 minutes agoBook Review: ‘Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters,’ by Yevgenia Nayberg
-
Lifestyle39 minutes agoWhen Does a Shoe Stop Being a Shoe?
-
Education45 minutes agoHow a Radical Historian Saved the Schlock of ’76
-
Technology51 minutes agoAurzen’s tiny trifold projector is almost 40 percent off right now