Youngkin says National Guard is ready ahead of national immigration raid protests

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin told reporters Friday that they are deploying and staging state resources, including the National Guard, ahead of the upcoming protests this weekend.

On Friday, June 13, Youngkin explained that he is planning to deploy and stage the National Guard ahead of the major demonstrations against President Donald Trump across the United States over federal immigration enforcement raids.

Some demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been peaceful, while others have seen protesters arrested for clashing with officers.

"I fully support our First Amendment and its protection of its right to demonstrate, but I want to be really clear, that there will be zero tolerance for any violence, for any destruction of personal property, business property, for disrupting traffic and putting people's lives in danger," Youngkin told reporters. "If you violate the law, you're gonna be arrested."

Trump summoned 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, after protests regarding increased immigration enforcement laws. According to The Hill, a federal appeals court on Tuesday, June 17, will hear the government’s challenge to a judge’s order that Trump exceeded his authority by taking control of California’s Guard troops.

"The Guard is already integrated into this," Youngkin said. "The way that Title 32 works for me is that I can involve the Guard in public disturbance efforts, so I'm already doing that. The Guard is going through last-minute preparations and we will have them pre-positioned, and many of them will already be involved in security events around the state."

Youngkin emphasized the urge to "mobilize substantial resources," including Virginia State Police, local resources and National Guard, to "make sure we have substantial presence across the Commonwealth and make sure that First Amendment rights can be exercised."

He continued to say that Americans can plan protests for whatever issue they want; under the United States Constitution, however, he said, "I will aslo make sure that the law isn't violated."

"That's what we're going to make sure over the weekend -- that we protect constitutional rights, but we're going to keep people safe," Youngkin added.

Youngkin said he has been involved in briefings twice a day regarding the upcoming protests all week to be involved at least every 12 hours.

The governor is not the first to deploy National Guard troops, as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced they would mobilize National Guard troops in their respective states ahead of the weekend demonstrations.