In a significant development concerning the ongoing protests in Los Angeles, US Marines stationed at the Wilshire Federal Building detained a civilian on Friday, marking the first instance of federal troops engaging in law enforcement since their deployment by President Donald Trump. The detained individual was identified as Marcos Leao, a 27-year-old veteran.
This incident underscores the contentious nature of the Marines’ presence in the city, which was augmented by the deployment of approximately 700 Marines along with 4,000 National Guards to help manage increasing unrest. Notably, this deployment occurred without the expressed consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has actively contested the federal government’s actions through legal channels.
In a related judicial development, senior US Judge Charles Breyer issued a ruling on Friday asserting that President Trump’s appropriation of California’s National Guard was unlawful. The judge’s ruling emphasized that Trump’s actions exceeded his statutory authority and infringed upon the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, necessitating a prompt return of control over the National Guard to Governor Newsom. While the ruling specifically addressed the National Guards, it did not extend to the Marines, as the judge declined to block their operations due to their lack of prior action.
However, the legal landscape shifted with the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals later blocking Judge Breyer’s order, allowing President Trump to retain control over the National Guard and maintain their presence in California. Following the appellate court’s decision, President Trump expressed his gratitude via a post on Truth Social, stating, “The Appeals Court ruled last night that I can use the National Guard to keep our cities, in this case Los Angeles, safe. If I didn’t send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved LA. Thank you for the Decision!!!”
Tensions have escalated further between President Trump and Governor Newsom amid these developments. In response to the federalization of troops, Governor Newsom took to social media platform X, asserting, “The military belongs on the battlefield, not on our city streets. End the unnecessary militarisation of Los Angeles now, @realDonaldTrump.” His statements reiterate the ongoing concerns regarding the militarization of urban areas and the possible implications for civic rights.
As protests against Trump’s immigration policies continue, Los Angeles authorities are bracing for an expected increase in demonstrators this Saturday. The protests, which initially sparked due to the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have since catalyzed nationwide activism, resulting in approximately 400 arrests to date amid the state-imposed curfew.
Governor Newsom remains committed to contesting the militarization decision. Meanwhile, President Trump issued a warning regarding potential protests that could occur during a military parade in Washington on June 14, cautioning that such demonstrations would be met with “very big force.”
As these events unfold, the political landscape continues to be defined by sharp divisions and escalating tensions surrounding the deployment of military forces in domestic situations.
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