Tensions escalated dramatically in Los Angeles as the Trump administration deployed thousands more troops to the city in response to ongoing protests against immigration raids.
The controversial move, made without the consent of state officials, drew sharp condemnation from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it “the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president.”
A total of 700 US Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, based in Twentynine Palms, have joined National Guard forces, whose deployment has been doubled to 4,000. The troops are primarily tasked with protecting federal property and immigration enforcement agents.
This marks the first time since 1965 that National Guard troops have been sent into a U.S. city without a governor’s approval. California is now suing President Trump for overstepping legal boundaries, as domestic military involvement in civilian law enforcement remains highly restricted.
Over the past four days, protests have intensified outside federal detention centers in LA, with demonstrators opposing immigration raids that have already led to the deportation of at least four Mexican nationals, according to Mexico’s foreign ministry.
On Monday night, Los Angeles police used stun grenades, gas canisters, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds gathered outside a downtown detention facility. Some protesters reportedly hurled bricks and other objects at officers. A police cordon formed by National Guard troops held the line around the building, as federal agents attempted to maintain order.
While most protests have been peaceful, authorities noted incidents of vandalism and violence, including the torching of Waymo self-driving vehicles and the assault of police with motorcycles and cinder blocks.
LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman criticized the federal response as disproportionate. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he noted that local law enforcement still had the capacity to manage the unrest and emphasized that only a small portion of the population was involved in criminal activity.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday named Elpidio Reyna as a suspect in an assault case involving federal agents. A search warrant was executed at his residence, and Reyna is now expected to be added to the Most Wanted list.
Despite the volatility, the White House has not yet invoked the Insurrection Act, which would permit federal troops to directly engage in civilian policing something not seen since the 1992 LA riots.
As the situation unfolds, protests continue to spread to other cities across the U.S., raising nationwide questions about immigration enforcement, presidential authority, and the militarization of domestic responses.
