The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to continue its immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, amidst significant pushback regarding the legality and necessity of deploying military forces in the city.
During a news conference in Los Angeles, Noem suggested that the presence of military personnel would increase until order is restored to the streets.
“We have more assets now, today, than we did yesterday. We had more yesterday than we did the day before, so we are only building momentum,” Noem expressed, emphasizing the administration’s intent to assert control.
The situation escalated sharply when US Democratic Senator from California, Alex Padilla, attempted to voice his dissent and was forcefully ejected from the room.
Following his removal, Padilla was reportedly pushed to the ground and handcuffed, sparking outrage and condemnation from fellow Democrats.
The deployment of troops came as a direct result of President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to send military forces to Los Angeles, which has faced staunch opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
This directive has ignited a nationwide debate on the appropriateness of utilizing military personnel in law enforcement roles within the United States.
As part of the ongoing operation, up to 700 US Marines are expected on Los Angeles streets by Thursday or Friday to complement a contingent of around 4,000 National Guard troops.
These forces, alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, are tasked with being a bulwark against what the administration describes as a need for enhanced immigration enforcement.
Noem staunchly defended the use of both National Guard and Marines, asserting that President Trump has the constitutional right to employ every means at his disposal in this effort.
In response, California’s government indicated plans to seek a federal court order to limit the military’s involvement, arguing that National Guard troops have already engaged in unlawful activities by assisting ICE agents in immigration raids.
California’s legal challenge underscores claims made in its court filing that the federal government has overstepped its authority in deploying National Guard troops for these purposes.
Noem countered with numbers, stating that federal officers had already arrested over 1,500 individuals in the area, and she indicated that there could be “tens of thousands” more targets still to apprehend.
She further invoked claims that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is probing potential financial connections between the protests and political advocacy organizations, despite little tangible evidence to support such allegations.
Public sentiment surrounding these developments is expected to culminate on Saturday, when Americans across the nation witness contrasting images of military presence in major urban centers.
While Los Angeles will see military personnel guarding federal properties, Washington, D.C., will treat the public to a military parade featuring tanks and armored vehicles, celebrating the army’s 250th anniversary coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday.
The planned parade has prompted an array of protests nationwide, with nearly 2,000 demonstrations forecasted, marking one of the largest public responses to Trump’s return to power in January.
Peaceful protests, although regularly threatened by bursts of violence, have unfolded in various cities, including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, Texas.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of over 5,000 National Guard troops in tandem with 2,000 state police officers.
The aim is to support local law enforcement during ongoing protests against both the military troop deployment and immigration raids, although Abbott did not specify the exact locations of these troops.
Polling in San Antonio revealed various sentiments regarding the presence of troops, particularly as local mayors distanced themselves from Abbott’s decision to mobilize the National Guard in their cities.
Similar measures were taken by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, who activated the National Guard in the wake of civil unrest.
In a statement, Kehoe reinforced his state’s commitment to uphold the right to peaceful protest while warning against any acts of violence or lawlessness.
The protests originally ignited in Los Angeles last Friday, spurred by local immigration raids, leading Trump to call in the National Guard shortly thereafter.
Militarization in urban environments has raised concerns among local officials, who argue that the city remained largely peaceful and that local law enforcement had the situation under control.
Incidents of disorder, however, did occur, with reports of demonstrators throwing objects at police and some confrontations escalating unexpectedly.
While some sections of the protests turned violent, many others succeeded in maintaining order and attracting significant crowds.
This unprecedented deployment of military forces under the pretext of enforcing immigration law is viewed by many as a divergence from traditional policing methods and raises critical questions about constitutional limits on military authority under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.
The California government, through its legal filings, has argued that recent infantry actions during ICE arrests have blurred the lines of permissible military conduct.
The national discourse has highlighted concerns about military intervention in civil matters, especially as photos emerge depicting National Guard members aiding ICE agents during arrests, thereby sparking outrage regarding their role in law enforcement.
The state’s legal filings propose that unless intervened upon by judicial authority, military involvement could evolve to include activities akin to urban policing operations, including detention and interrogation procedures.
On the contrary, the Trump administration has countered these claims, asserting in a recent court filing that the military engagements are strictly protective rather than law enforcement actions.
US Army Major-General Scott Sherman noted that while Marines would be present with live rounds, their weapons would not be loaded with live ammunition.
As the situation continues to develop, the clarity of roles between military personnel, local law enforcement, and civilian protesters remains under scrutiny.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/12/marines-prepare-for-deployment-in-los-angeles-as-protests-spread-across-us
