In a significant move, the United States military is set to deploy approximately 700 marines to Los Angeles, with plans for a full contingent of 4,000 National Guard troops to arrive shortly thereafter. This escalation occurs amidst President Donald Trump’s response to ongoing protests related to immigration raids across the country, raising concerns among local leaders.
The deployment is notable, marking an extraordinary use of military force to support a police operation, and comes in opposition to state and local officials who did not seek this assistance. Currently, the Trump administration has refrained from invoking the Insurrection Act, which would enable federal troops to directly engage in civilian law enforcement.
Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies have erupted in at least nine other U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Austin, and San Francisco. Local news reports indicate that opposition to the administration’s tactics is growing more widespread.
In response to the mounting protests, which have persisted for four consecutive days, law enforcement in Los Angeles has moved to disperse demonstrators gathered outside a federal detention center where immigrants are incarcerated. Hundreds of protesters were met with police forces, which arrested some participants and utilized “less lethal” munitions like gas canisters in an effort to control the situation.
The National Guard has begun to set up a human barricade outside the detention facility, aiming to keep protesters at bay. This use of military personnel to aid in policing is highly unusual and expected to be met with strong opposition from Democrats, who have accused President Trump of unnecessarily inflating tensions in the city.
Earlier in the day, President Trump indicated his support for the potential arrest of California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, after Newsom announced plans to sue the federal government over the deployment of National Guard troops, labeling it an illegal act. Newsom has asserted that the actions taken by Trump are “an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism” and that he intends to take legal action against the president.
“We are suing Donald Trump,” Newsom declared via X, stating that he believes the situation is a manufactured crisis. He accused the president of sowing fear and chaos to justify his military actions and violate constitutional rights.
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, has also filed a lawsuit claiming Trump has exceeded his authority under federal law governing the deployment of the National Guard. Such laws permit presidential deployment in circumstances involving invasion or rebellion, or when regular forces are insufficient to execute federal laws.
Despite the controversy surrounding the deployment, Trump has declared that he felt a lack of choice but to proceed with ordering military troops to prevent escalating violence. The governor and other California officials have characterized this decision as an overreaction to the protests that had unfolded over the weekend.
In an unsettling display of his administration’s stance toward state leadership, Trump responded affirmatively when asked if Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, should arrest Governor Newsom. Trump remarked, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” implying that the governor’s pushback against federal actions is deserving of punitive measures.
As protests in Los Angeles continue, the White House, along with congressional Republicans, argues that this unrest justifies the passing of Trump’s
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