A progressive House Democrat, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, is introducing a bill to block the Trump administration from using military-grade drones to surveil protests in the United States. This initiative follows reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employed MQ-9 Reaper drones to monitor the protests in Los Angeles earlier this year. The move comes as a response to the administration’s actions, which have been criticized for their potential to infringe on civil liberties and escalate tensions during times of unrest.
Gomez, a Democrat representing California, has stated that the use of military drones for domestic surveillance is a dangerous abuse of power. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he emphasized that the government should never utilize such technology to monitor its own citizens, regardless of the administration in power. His concerns are rooted in the events that unfolded in Los Angeles, where protests, some of which turned into violent riots, lasted for several days. These demonstrations were sparked by the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which led to increased tensions in Hispanic and Latino neighborhoods within the city.
The situation in Los Angeles took a turn for the worse when images of cars burning and protesters clashing with police began to spread across the country. Both political parties were quick to assign blame, with Republicans and Democrats each pointing fingers at the other for fueling the unrest. Gomez, along with other Democrats, criticized Trump for deploying the National Guard into Los Angeles to take control of the situation, despite objections from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. He argued that such actions not only risk lives but also violate constitutional values, warning that if such events can occur in Los, they could happen anywhere in the United States.
Gomez’s district, which is entirely within Los Angeles County, is particularly affected by these developments, leading him to advocate for stricter measures to prevent the abuse of power. However, given the Republican control of the House, the chances of his bill being taken up or passed are slim. The legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but it may not garner the necessary support to move forward. The controversy surrounding the use of military drones for domestic surveillance highlights broader concerns about surveillance technology, civil liberties, and the balance between national security and individual rights.