The Trump administration has significantly escalated its military presence in Los Angeles, deploying thousands more troops as protests against immigration raids enter their fourth day and spread to other major US cities. Approximately 700 US Marines have been dispatched to the LA area, alongside a doubling of the National Guard contingent to 4,000, in a highly unusual move that has sparked widespread condemnation and a lawsuit from the State of California.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vehemently criticized the deployment, stating it fulfills "the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president." The state is suing the president, arguing the move was made without gubernatorial permission, a departure from typical US military protocol which strictly limits domestic law enforcement roles. This marks the first instance since 1965 that a president has sent National Guard troops into a US city without a governor's approval. US Marines have historically been deployed domestically only for major disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the 9/11 attacks.
The unrest in Los Angeles ignited last Friday following reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting raids in Latino communities. Protests quickly devolved into chaotic scenes, including looting, the torching of self-driving Waymo vehicles, assaults on law enforcement with cinder blocks and bricks, and significant vandalism. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported 29 arrests on Saturday night and 21 on Sunday, with charges ranging from attempted murder to assault on police officers and looting. Over 600 rubber bullets and other less-than-lethal rounds were reportedly used by the LAPD over the weekend.
On Monday, Mexico's foreign affairs office confirmed that at least four Mexican nationals detained in Los Angeles since Friday had already been deported.
Despite the escalating military presence, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reiterated on Tuesday morning that the additional deployment was unnecessary, stating, "We have not reached the point where local law enforcement has got beyond its means to deal with the situation." He noted that only a "small fraction" of the population was protesting, with an even smaller number engaging in unlawful acts.
The US military stated that the 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms, California, will primarily focus on protecting federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. On Monday evening, LAPD officers used stun grenades and gas canisters to disperse hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown LA, where undocumented immigrants are being held. National Guard forces formed a cordon to control the crowd, with some demonstrators throwing objects at officers.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi identified Elpidio Reyna as a man accused of assaulting federal agents by throwing rocks, announcing a search warrant on his home and his addition to America's "Most Wanted" list.
The protests have spread beyond Los Angeles, with similar demonstrations erupting in at least nine other US cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Austin, and San Francisco.
At the White House on Monday, President Trump defended his decision to deploy the National Guard, claiming it prevented the city from "burning down." He stated, "You watch same clips I did: cars burning, people rioting, we stopped it. I feel we had no choice." The Republican president also expressed support for the suggestion of arresting Governor Newsom for potential obstruction of immigration enforcement, a sentiment swiftly dismissed by Trump's border tsar Tom Homan. Newsom, however, strongly condemned the troop deployment as an "unmistakable step toward authoritarianism" and a move to "stroke a dangerous president's ego."
Trump issued a stark warning to protesters on social media, stating: "IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!"
LA Mayor Karen Bass echoed other local officials' concerns, calling the troop deployment a "deliberate attempt" by the Trump administration to "create disorder and chaos in our city." She also noted at least "five raids by ICE throughout the region" on Monday, including one near her grandson's school.
Governor Newsom's legal challenge against Trump's National Guard deployment argues a violation of the US Constitution and California's sovereignty, with further legal action threatened over the Marine deployment. Trump has consistently maintained that his predecessor's administration allowed illegal immigration to surge and has pledged to deport record numbers of undocumented migrants, aiming for at least 3,000 daily arrests.