California Gov. Gavin Newsom toured the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, which was the target of a recent immigration enforcement attack, speaking to members of the community who affected and highlighted the devastating economic and social impacts.
At a press conference outside the Downey church, Newsom spoke about conversations with small business owners, workers and families who say their sense of livelihood and safety have been disrupted since the attack began.
“I had the opportunity to visit with business leaders, small businesses… Bell’s generation of businesses,” Newsom told the assembled media. “They said they lost 80% of their business and lost something more valuable… They said they lost a sense of community, they said they missed customers, not business.
California Governor Gavin Newsom will speak at a press conference held in Downey, California on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Newsom warned that the fears currently grasping these neighborhoods have affected legal residents and even documented workers.
“They have 15 years of employees. He doesn’t even come out to work. He’s here with the documents,” Newsom added. “He’s racially profiled so he won’t show up because he’s scared of him being pulled for his appearance, because he’s scared of him being pulled for his appearance.”
The governor said he met a woman and her daughter outside an ice cream shop that is legally in the country but always relies on carrying her passport.
Newsom said those fears are something that he doesn’t have to worry about himself, but that would become common in “Trump’s America.”
“I made it easy. [I’m a] White man, all privileges. But when you talk to members of the community, they feel like democracy is already gone… they feel like authoritarianism is already coming to their community,” Newsmu said.
Federal Agent Stage at MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP photo/Damiando Burgergen)
In addition to the social impact felt across Southland, Newsom has repeatedly criticised President Trump’s decision to send thousands of National Guard and military personnel to Los Angeles as part of the immigrant crackdown, calling it a waste of taxpayer money, and implied it as a performance political theatre.
“The US President has decided to advance his cruelty by using brave men and women from the National Guard as pawns to show his strength theatricality,” Newsom said in some of his most pointed comments to the President.
“There’s no financial conservatives left… he’s the hundreds of millions of dollars burned. He doesn’t get enough embrace from his parents, so he tries to burn in your mind that he’s a tough guy.”
After it was announced that about half of the 4,000 National Guard troops mobilized to LA have been sent home, Newsom said it plans to redirect them to a more pressing mission.
“I want them to get them back under my control so they can get them back to control wildfires, keep their communities safe, deal with anti-drug issues, and deal with fentanyl issues,” he said. “I want them to teach our kids. I want them to turn off their masks and walk the beat, building a sense of trust, a sense of community.”
Dozens of Heavy Armed Masked Ice Agents (KTLA) saw them raid on Santa Fe Springs Swap Meat on June 14, 2025
At one point, Newsom said that even he was mistaken for an ice agent while shopping at the local farmers’ market because the military presence is so normalized.
“We drove in a black and white car, and as we walked around, I started to feel like no one had said anything,” Newsom recalled. “And all of a sudden the manager at Farmers Market heard that the ice was there and he asked our people who they were… how bad it would be.”
Newsom also denounced Trump and top advisor Stephen Miller. Stephen Miller accused the governor of repeatedly challenging social media and exploiting immigrant communities for political gain.
“It’s about family. It’s about community. It’s about the sense of place. It’s about our economy, and it’s about Donald Trump growing up. Donald Trump knows what he’s doing.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller will speak to a reporter outside the White House in Washington on Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
He also warned that operations seen in California might soon spread nationwide.
“If you think this is about California, you’re fooling yourself. These are the operations you’ll see all over the United States. They tested the boundaries of the law. They tested the boundaries of the public’s perception and what the public accepts.”
The governor concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting the immigrant community, saying that if the White House is really interested in chasing violent criminals, they have partners in California.
“You want to coordinate with violent criminals? I’m happy to partner with you. I have a receipt,” Newsom said, but he believes Trump’s plan is intended to indiscriminately terrorize the immigrant community. “This isn’t about violent criminals. It’s the exact opposite.”
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