The Trump administration has deployed 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to support federal immigration enforcement operations, sparking outrage among Democratic leaders and civil rights advocates. The deployment, which began Monday night, follows escalating protests against a sweeping crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The Marines are tasked with temporarily protecting federal property and personnel as the administration awaits the arrival of 4,000 National Guard troops. The action marks one of the rare instances in U.S. history where active-duty military personnel have been used in domestic law enforcement, drawing sharp criticism for bypassing state authority.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move, calling it an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,” and filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the military deployment. President Trump responded by endorsing calls to arrest Newsom for allegedly obstructing federal immigration laws.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, meanwhile, vowed to escalate the raids, stating that ICE agents have detained over 2,000 immigration offenders daily—nearly seven times the average under the previous administration.
Protests have entered their fourth day in Los Angeles, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside a federal detention center downtown. Authorities used tear gas, flash bangs, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Similar protests have erupted in at least nine other cities, including New York and Austin, Texas.
Critics argue the administration is using the military as a political tool to suppress dissent and enforce immigration policy, a charge underscored by the opposition from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities.
“This is a city of immigrants,” Bass said. Noem countered the sentiment, saying, “They are not a city of immigrants. They’re a city of criminals.”
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that the military deployment risks turning a tense political climate into a full-blown national crisis. “We do not want the military conducting law enforcement on U.S. soil,” he said.
The situation remains volatile, with protests intensifying and legal battles looming.
