Trump Orders Marines to LA Amid Escalating Immigration Protests
News Desk
Islamabad: President Donald Trump has ordered the temporary deployment of approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, amid ongoing protests sparked by his administration’s intensified immigration enforcement actions. The Marines will help secure federal property as the city braces for a surge in demonstrations now entering their fourth day.
According to a senior U.S. military official, the Marines’ role will be limited to defensive support, as the Insurrection Act—legislation that would permit active military personnel to engage in civilian law enforcement—has not been invoked. Instead, the Marines will protect government facilities and personnel until reinforcements from the National Guard arrive.
The White House’s move comes in response to growing public outcry over a wave of federal immigration raids across Southern California. Demonstrations have erupted outside federal facilities, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement leading to multiple injuries and incidents of property damage.
California Sues Federal Government
On Monday, the state of California filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the deployment, arguing it violates both federal law and state sovereignty. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the president’s actions as an “unprecedented and unwarranted escalation” and confirmed that an additional 2,000 National Guard troops are being dispatched to Los Angeles—doubling the number announced over the weekend.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Newsom’s office said, “This level of escalation is completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented.”
Democratic lawmakers across the country criticized the deployment, warning it could set a dangerous precedent for the use of military force in domestic political disputes. President Trump defended the decision, telling reporters he had “no choice” but to act in order to prevent further unrest.
Nationwide Protests and Violence
In Los Angeles, demonstrators gathered outside a federal immigration detention center, chanting “free them all.” Police reported multiple confrontations, including incidents in which protesters threw concrete and bottles at officers. Five police officers were injured in the clashes.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed several self-driving Waymo vehicles were set on fire on Sunday night. Additionally, a Trump supporter was assaulted by protesters, and unidentified individuals fired paintballs at the federal facility from a vehicle.
Protests were also reported in at least nine other major cities, including New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as opposition to the administration’s immigration crackdown spreads nationwide.
Legal and Constitutional Implications
The standoff in California represents one of the most intense confrontations between the Trump administration and Democratic-led state governments over immigration enforcement. President Trump has long accused Democratic cities of obstructing federal immigration law and recently blamed President Joe Biden for “allowing far too many immigrants into the country.”
In a controversial statement, Trump also endorsed comments by his former immigration chief Tom Homan, who suggested California Governor Gavin Newsom should be arrested for obstructing federal operations. “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump said.
The administration has pledged to dramatically ramp up deportations, setting a target of 3,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants per day a goal critics call unrealistic and a potential threat to civil liberties.
Deployment Raises Alarm Among Legal Experts
The use of active-duty military forces on U.S. soil has raised serious concerns among constitutional scholars and civil rights organizations. While the military has previously been deployed for disaster relief and national emergencies—such as Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks—their role in managing civil unrest remains highly controversial.
The last invocation of the Insurrection Act occurred in 1992, when then-Governor Pete Wilson called for federal assistance to contain the Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of officers involved in the Rodney King beating.
Without a formal Insurrection Act declaration, federal law prohibits military personnel from conducting law enforcement operations.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed logistical concerns about the sudden deployment, noting that his department had not received formal coordination from federal authorities. “The deployment presents a significant logistical and operational challenge,” McDonnell said.
What Comes Next?
As legal challenges advance and protests show no sign of subsiding, the situation in Los Angeles could serve as a test case for the limits of presidential authority during times of civil unrest. Protesters continue to demand the release of detained immigrants and an end to what they call “militarized immigration enforcement.”
Meanwhile, California’s lawsuit could determine how far a president can go in deploying federal forces without state consent—and whether the balance of power between state and federal governments will be redefined in the process.
