In a rare domestic use of military forces, approximately 200 Marines have been deployed to Los Angeles to protect a federal building, amid escalating protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration raids.
This deployment comes in the wake of a ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allows the continuation of National Guard troops in the city, following pushback against Trump’s immigration policy since he returned to power in January.
Major General Scott Sherman announced on Friday that while about 200 Marines are on the ground, the administration has authorized a total of 700 Marines to be deployed in Los Angeles.
He emphasized during a briefing that the Marines, along with National Guard troops, would not engage in law enforcement activities and had not detained anyone at this time.
Historically, it is uncommon for active-duty military troops to respond to civil disturbances domestically. The last significant instance of military deployment for police action under the Insurrection Act occurred in 1992, when California’s governor requested assistance from then-President George H.W. Bush in response to rioting following the acquittal of police officers in the Rodney King beating case.
President Trump expressed his approval of the court’s decision allowing his deployment of National Guard troops, stating on his Truth Social platform, “We saved L.A. Thank you for the Decision!!!”
As cities across the United States brace for further demonstrations, activists opposing the military parade planned in Washington are expected to take to the streets on Saturday.
No Kings, a group organizing a day of action, expressed their grievances on their website, claiming that the current administration has acted against civil rights and has hurt American communities.
In Los Angeles, soldiers have been visible in downtown, primarily guarding a federal detention center where many protests have occurred in support of detained immigrants.
National Guard troops have previously been involved in missions accompanying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during detention operations.
This escalation in federal immigration enforcement has drawn opposition from city officials in Los Angeles and California’s state officials since it began last week.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has emphasized the necessity for ICE to withdraw from the city, stating that “Peace begins with ICE leaving Los Angeles.” She has also imposed a nighttime curfew over a designated area in downtown LA.
While the protests in Los Angeles have remained largely peaceful, they have seen sporadic incidents of violence and have been confined to specific city blocks.
Other cities such as New York and Chicago have also witnessed demonstrations in the past week, with some reports of disturbances. Notably, four men escaped from a privately-run immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday, driven by inmate unrest over the conditions within that facility.
Advocacy group New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice shared video footage of protesters outside the Newark facility attempting to obstruct law enforcement vehicles from entering.
President Trump’s current policies reflect his campaign promises to increase immigrant deportation, employing assertive tactics that have characterized his political approach.
In contrast, Democrats, including California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, have criticized the deployment of military forces as excessive and emblematic of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies.
American public opinion appears divided regarding the President’s decision to activate military forces. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 48% of respondents supported the idea of deploying military personnel to restore order amid violent protests, while 41% opposed such measures.
image source from：https://www.firstpost.com/world/united-states/us-marines-deployed-to-los-angeles-after-trump-wins-court-battle-over-immigration-crackdown-13897008.html
