Tensions Surge in Los Angeles as Trump Deploys 700 Marines Amid Immigration Protests

President Trump deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles to manage protests over immigration raids, sparking backlash from California leaders. Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta accused the administration of violating state rights. Thousands continue to protest, with legal and political tensions between the state and federal government rising sharply.

Los Angeles is facing its most volatile unrest in years as President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 700 Marines to the city amid escalating immigration protests. The move has ignited political and legal backlash, with California leaders accusing the federal government of overreach and preparing to sue.

The protests, now in their fourth day, were triggered by federal immigration sweeps that led to over 40 arrests across Los Angeles. Demonstrators initially gathered outside a federal detention center, demanding the release of detainees and an end to what they called Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

The Marines, dispatched from Twentynine Palms, are assigned to protect federal assets, not engage in law enforcement. The deployment remains within the limits of the Posse Comitatus Act, and the Insurrection Act has not been invoked—though the possibility remains open.

California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the federal response, branding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments as “deranged” and asserting the state was capable of managing its own affairs. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state’s lawsuit, arguing the troop deployment violates both state sovereignty and constitutional limits on federal authority.

President Trump justified the action by portraying the protests as near-rebellious. He claimed the deployment averted catastrophe and accused California officials of weakness. By Monday, around 1,000 National Guard troops were already on the ground, with more expected.

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Clashes continued across the city. In Whittier and Huntington Park, sightings of immigration agents sparked further outrage. At City Hall, thousands rallied in support of arrested labor leader David Huerta, intensifying the movement.

As the protests show no signs of slowing, the political and legal battle between California and the Trump administration is poised to escalate dramatically.