President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of Marines to Los Angeles as protests have erupted following the arrests of 44 individuals for violating immigration laws.
To complement this move, Trump has also doubled the National Guard presence in the city to 4,000 soldiers, asserting that such measures are necessary due to local authorities’ inability to keep law enforcement personnel and federal properties safe.
However, this decision has faced fierce backlash, not only from political opponents like California Governor Gavin Newsom but also from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The LAPD has expressed concerns that military involvement could complicate the enforcement of law and order, thereby complicating their operations during a time of civil unrest.
Understanding the role of the US Marines is essential to grasp the implications of their deployment.
The Marines, part of the US armed forces and established in 1775, are trained for a range of operations, particularly focusing on land and sea combat and amphibious warfare.
Currently, the Marine Corps consists of approximately 172,577 active duty personnel and 33,036 reserves as of 2023, according to the Department of Defense.
The Marine deployment to Los Angeles, ordered by the military’s Northern Command, includes about 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who were placed on alert over the weekend.
They are set to integrate with the National Guard troops already in the city.
Initially, LAPD was tasked with managing the unrest sparked by the protests that began on Friday.
On Saturday, President Trump activated around 2,000 National Guard members in Los Angeles County, dismissing the objections from Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.
Following the announcement of the Marine deployment, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed an additional 2,000 National Guard soldiers would also be mobilized, raising concerns about escalation.
In response to the Marine deployment, LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell highlighted the absence of formal notification regarding the arrival of federal military forces.
He stated that such an unexpected presence poses severe logistical and operational difficulties for the LAPD, which has extensive experience in managing large protests.
McDonnell emphasized the importance of continuous communication among all involved law enforcement agencies to prevent confusion and ensure public safety.
The LAPD’s concerns stem from historical precedents of poor coordination during high-stress situations, which can lead to escalated tensions between law enforcement and protesters.
Deploying Marines to handle domestic unrest is historically rare; the last significant instance occurred in 1992 during protests following the acquittal of four police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King.
During those riots, 2,000 National Guard soldiers and 1,500 Marines were dispatched to Los Angeles, leading to tragic outcomes including 63 deaths and widespread violence.
A notable incident during those events involved a miscommunication between LAPD officers and Marines, leading to gunfire when an officer called for cover.
Despite no fatalities, the rapid deployment of Marines was ceased shortly thereafter, highlighting the risks involved in uncoordinated military intervention in civilian matters.
The current Marine deployment occurs against the backdrop of active protests, which have largely remained peaceful, contrasting sharply with the turbulent riots of 1992.
Experts warn that sending in military forces without coordination with state leaders could lead to increased tensions, thereby violating the First Amendment rights of protesters.
The First Amendment protects freedoms concerning speech and peaceful assembly, which are essential in any democratic society.
Reports from Los Angeles reveal that the initial deployment of National Guard soldiers has seen minimal interaction with protesters, raising questions about the necessity of deploying Marines or increasing the number of National Guard personnel.
Indeed, onlookers noted that the National Guard units largely remained passive, simply standing by in their military attire without engaging with demonstrators.
Governor Newsom, via social media, criticized the initial deployment of National Guard troops, alleging that they lacked basic necessities such as food and water, with many remaining inactive in federal buildings.
He further asserted that the deployment of the Marines is illegal and has announced a lawsuit against President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seeking to terminate what he termed an illegal takeover of the National Guard.
Notably, this marks the first time in 60 years that a president has overridden a state governor’s wishes to activate the National Guard.
In terms of legal authority, the deployment of regular armed forces like the Marines typically requires invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used measure reserved for extreme circumstances.
While Trump activated the National Guard without invoking this act, legal experts, including Gregory Magarian, have pointed out that deploying the Marines absent such justification would escalate the situation and possibly result in a constitutional crisis.
As of now, it remains unclear whether President Trump invoked the Insurrection Act specifically to deploy the Marines.
In contrast, the National Guard was activated under Title 10 of the United States Code, which does not necessitate similar constraints as the Insurrection Act.
Experts argue that the current situation does not meet the severe legal requirements to justify calling Marines into active duty for domestic response.
In an effort to rationalize the Marine deployment, Hegseth defended the measures in light of what he described as increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and properties, particularly in the context of heightened public scrutiny and pushback against immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials would maintain their law enforcement actions despite ongoing protests.
As protests against the immigration arrests have spread to at least nine other cities, including New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, the situation remains fluid, with local law enforcement grappling with the implications of federal military involvement in civilian protests.
As these developments continue to unfold, the delicate balance between maintaining public order and respecting constitutional rights remains at the forefront of this evolving crisis.
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