Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Pete Hegseth Testifies on Capitol Hill; Trump Administration Looks to Crack Down on Protesters. Aired 11:30a-12p ET
Aired June 10, 2025 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:30:00]
JUAN PROANO, CEO, LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS: We got a call on Thursday that there were over 200 immigrants actually being detained in the Roybal federal building, some as young as 2 years old, a mother who was expecting, complete families that were kept as a unit.
And the federal Roybal building is not an ICE detention center. It does not have adequate food, water, or even a place for anyone to sleep. And so they had actually created makeshift tents in the basement. There were people in offices and interview rooms, up to 30 per room.
And we actually had a lawyer that was inside that building reporting back to us and was able to send us photos and videos to confirm this. But the other part of it too, which is really our concern, is that, while this is a planned and orchestrated campaign by the Trump administration, they're clearly at overcapacity.
The ICE detention centers do not have the capacity for all of the immigrants that they're trying to detain and deport. So what they're trying to do is move as quickly as they possibly can through the accelerated deportation process, but,even then, they continue to fail.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Your organization, Juan, LULAC, as it's called, is urging the public to stay calm.
But do you believe the violence and the destruction of property that we're seeing in Los Angeles has overshadowed the message of protesting against these ICE raids?
PROANO: Absolutely.
There's absolutely no question about it. But, again, it's not necessarily reflective of the community. It's not those Latinos that are being detained and deported. They're not out there protesting. You have obviously some agitators that are burning down cars, for example, and the graffiti. But that has to stop.
Our message is that that has to stop, that we will only call for peaceful protests, not just in L.A., but in other cities around the country, like Texas and Arizona and in Florida, where a lot of similar efforts are actually on the way by the Trump administration. BLITZER: The local union leader David Huerta is out on bond right now
following his arrest during these protests. LULAC, your organization, has called Huerta's arrest disturbing.
He's facing federal charges of conspiring to impede an officer. I want to play something that he said about his arrest. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID HUERTA, PRESIDENT, SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CALIFORNIA: I don't know what they have in store for me. I imagine at this point in time I am their project and their -- they're going to put me as their example of what happens.
But I'm prepared to take on that journey and I'm prepared to face that.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Juan, what do you make of that?
PROANO: Our concern -- and I don't think really people understand. These are federal charges. This is not a civil charge.
So when you're engaging with an ICE agent or when you're engaging with the National Guard, for example, or a Marine, it automatically gets bumped up to federal charges. It's going to be much, much harder to defend that against this administration, given, as David said, that he is a target.
We think that, when the evidence comes out, he will certainly be exonerated, but it's going to be a long -- a long time for us to determine the final outcome there. But we support David, we support the SEIU. We support the Latino and immigrant communities in Los Angeles.
And, again, we will continue to call for peaceful protests around the country.
BLITZER: All right, Juan Proano, thank you so much for joining us.
PROANO: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Pamela.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Up next, Wolf: The state of California suing the Trump administration over its response to protests in Los Angeles -- details, the brewing legal battle, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:38:17]
BROWN: The Justice Department says it has nine open cases connected to clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Los Angeles.
Attorney General Pam Bondi warns of stiff penalties, even in cases that normally would be left up to the states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: The looters, you saw they began to loot last night, going into 7-Elevens, going into drugstores. Typically, you don't charge those. We do under federal law now.
Under the Hobbs Act, we are charging robbery. You loot a business in California, you are looking at maximum of 20 years in prison.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: CNN senior legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elie Honig is joining us right now.
Elie, how rare is it for the Department of Justice to take on incidents like looting that states usually handle?
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, Wolf, typically, theft cases would be charged at the state level.
However, it's important to note that, when we're looking at the broader context of large-scale demonstrations or riots, there actually is precedent for DOJ bringing these charges. If we look back to September of 2020, during the prior administration, the Biden administration, DOJ announced over 300 federal criminal charges relating to demonstrations and protests that happened throughout the country.
So, given the context here, it's not all that unusual.
BROWN: Elie, California is now suing the Trump administration.
What is the state's primary argument and how likely is it that it will prevail with its lawsuit?
HONIG: So, Pam, the president here is using a specific federal law that says -- it's not the Insurrection Act, by the way. Important to say that.
It's a different federal law that says if the president determines that there is a rebellion or the danger of a rebellion, or if necessary to enforce federal law, then the president can activate the National Guard.
[11:40:03]
However, it's important to note that law also says that the president's orders have to be sent through the governor of the state. So California filed a lawsuit last night. They said these orders did not go through the governor, Gavin Newsom. He actually objects to this. Therefore, these orders are invalid. However, I think what we're going to hear from the administration in
response, probably some time today, is this is a federal law that specifically has to do with enforcing federal law, and it cannot be the case that the governor can override the president when it comes to an issue about enforcement of federal law.
BLITZER: Elie, how do you see this lawsuit actually playing out in court over the next days?
HONIG: So, very rapidly, Wolf, I think we could see some action, even later today, within the upcoming hour.
So a couple things are going to happen. first Of all, the Trump administration will respond. At this point, we simply have a complaint from California, and the federal judge who gets assigned this case, I think, is going to want to hear from the parties probably very quickly, possibly even today, because this is a situation that's happening right now.
One of the things the state of California is asking for is emergency relief blocking this. So I think we all need to watch very carefully. Now, the thing the judge is going to do in deciding whether to block this is to determine, first of all, does the state, do the plaintiffs here at California, do they have a reasonable chance of winning the case? And second of all, is there a risk that someone will suffer irreparable harm if this is not paused?
So watch for these calculations to be playing out over the coming hours and days.
BLITZER: How do you think a judge will decide whether to pause the Trump administration's actions?
HONIG: Yes, my instinct is there's a lot of play here.
The most important thing to keep in mind, we have never seen a case like this be resolved on these exact bases. We have never seen this argument play out. The question I referenced before, who is it up to? Is it up to the president alone, or can the governor override that? I actually think the administration has the better argument here.
First of all, the law itself is designed to give the president some power over National Guard. There already is existing power for governors to control the National Guard. So why you pass a -- why would you need to pass a law that gives governors those powers?
So, on balance, it seems to me, I think that the administration, that the Trump administration will have the better of the arguments here, but we're really in uncharted territories. Neither result would shock me.
BROWN: Elie Honig, thank you so much.
HONIG: Thanks, Pam.
BROWN: We will be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:47:00]
BROWN: Breaking news happening right now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Capitol Hill, where he just faced some tough questions from California Congressman Pete Aguilar about the deployment of Marines and National Guard members to Los Angeles.
Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): What's the justification for using the military for civilian law enforcement purposes in L.A.? Why are you sending war fighters to cities to interact with civilians?
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Every American citizen deserves to be -- live in a community that's safe, and ICE agents need to be able to do their job. They're being attacked for doing their job, which is deporting illegal criminals.
That should happen in any city, Minneapolis or Los Angeles. And if they're attacked, that's lawless, and President Trump believes in law and order. So he has every authority and he has done, mobilizing National Guard or active-duty troops under U.S. code to protect federal agents in their job, which is exactly what we're doing. And we're proud to do it. We're proud to do it.
(CROSSTALK)
AGUILAR: Mr. Secretary, 10 USC of the U.S. Code 12406 as a legal basis that the present used cites three examples and circumstances for the Guard, invasion by a foreign nation, a rebellion or dangerous rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States, or the president is unable for -- with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.
Which authority is triggered here to justify the use?
HEGSETH: I don't know. You just read it yourself and people can listen themselves, but it sounds like all three to me.
If you have got millions of illegals and you don't know where they're coming from, they're waving flags from foreign countries and assaulting police officers and law enforcement officers, that's a problem.
(CROSSTALK)
AGUILAR: You said the president is unable to execute the laws of the United States?
HEGSETH: No, the governor of California is unable to execute the laws of the United States.
AGUILAR: The code says the president. You said all three apply.
HEGSETH: The governor of the -- California has failed to protect his people, along with the mayor of Los Angeles. And so President Trump has said he will protect our agents. And our Guard and Marines are proud to do it.
AGUILAR: The law also says, Mr. Secretary, that the orders for these purposes shall be issued through governors of the states.
HEGSETH: You and I both know that President Trump has all the authorities necessary. And, thankfully, he's willing to do it on behalf of the citizens of Los Angeles, on behalf of our ICE agents, and behalf of our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: CNN national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand is back with us here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Natasha, he also addressed how long National Guard troops will be in Los Angeles and reports about them sleeping on the floor.
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, so Secretary Hegseth said that he expects the National Guard troops to be there for 60 days. So they're not going to be leaving any time soon, according to the secretary,because he says they need to stay there to show the protesters and the rioters that there is kind of a large military force there that is prepared to respond if they continue their protests.
He also addressed, as you said, these photos that we have seen circulating that were posted, including by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, of these National Guard troops sleeping on the ground, sleeping on top of each other. He said that the troops are being very well taken care of. They have enough food, water. They also have shelter.
[11:50:02]
Look, that -- those photos that we have seen just really speak the -- how fast that these troops were deployed. A lot of the kind of logistics of this are still being worked out. And so you're going to see photos like this, just like you saw back when the National Guard responded to the January 6 insurrection, of them sleeping on floors, kind of catching naps where they can.
What I'm told is that they do have a place to sleep, but obviously this is a very, very large contingent that is being deployed to the Los Angeles area, and they're now having to scramble to catch up and figure out where they're going to be located for an extended period of time.
And we should also note that he did reveal, or I should say the comptroller who's testifying next to him revealed the cost of this deployment. She said that it's -- right now, the estimate is that it's going to be about $134 million for the Marines, as well as the National Guard troops for this deployment.
BLITZER: A hundred and thirty-four million dollars, a lot of money, indeed.
All right, Natasha Bertrand, thank you very, very much.
And we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:55:08]
BLITZER: Before we go, we want to honor the life and work of a musical and cultural icon.
Sly Stone was a pioneer of the funk rock genre and the influential front man of the Family Stone. His band's hits included "Everyday People," "Family Affair," and "Dance to the Music."
(singing): Dance to the music.
BROWN: I was waiting for you to sing that.
BLITZER: The group's unique sound and multiracial lineup broke barriers and transcended generations, the lyrics also offering commentary on issues of race and social justice in America during the '60s and '70s.
His legacy was cemented with his band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1993.
Sly Stone passed away at the age of 82. May he rest in peace, Pamela, and may his memory...
BROWN: May his memory be a blessing.
BLITZER: Correct.
BROWN: Will you sing that again, "Dance to the Music?" That was so good, Wolf.
BLITZER: No, that's enough.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You can keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN.
We will see you back here tomorrow morning, every weekday morning, 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
BROWN: "INSIDE POLITICS" with our good friend Dana Bash is next after a short break.
