LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, intensifying a federal military presence that California officials have strongly opposed. The move comes amid widespread protests over immigration enforcement actions that have sparked civil unrest across several U.S. cities.
An initial wave of 2,000 National Guard troops arrived Sunday, the same day protests in Los Angeles reached their most violent point since demonstrations began Friday. Protesters have decried aggressive immigration raids that critics say are tearing families apart.
Monday’s demonstrations were markedly calmer. Thousands gathered peacefully at City Hall and outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where immigrants are reportedly being held. Despite the reduced tension, local and state officials remain critical of Trump’s deployment of federal forces.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concern over the lack of coordination, saying the arrival of Marines presents “a significant logistical and operational challenge.” He emphasized that the police department is fully capable of managing large-scale demonstrations.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass both condemned the federal escalation, accusing Trump of misrepresenting the situation and undermining public safety. Newsom called the deployments “reckless” and “disrespectful to our troops,” asserting, “This isn’t about public safety — it’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego.”
Federal Presence Faces Legal Pushback
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the legality of Trump’s use of the National Guard without state approval. He accused the president of violating state sovereignty and requested a court order to halt the deployment.
“We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops,” Bonta said.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Marines were sent specifically to protect federal facilities and personnel, including immigration agents. The new National Guard activation could take several days to fully implement.
Despite the military presence, direct interaction with protesters has been limited, with local police handling most of the crowd control efforts.
Protests Sparked by Immigration Raids
The demonstrations began Friday following the arrest of more than 40 individuals by federal immigration agents across Los Angeles. Violent clashes erupted over the weekend, including incidents where protesters blocked freeways and set autonomous vehicles on fire. Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.
By Monday, the tone of protests had shifted. Thousands attended a union-led rally in support of labor leader David Huerta, who was arrested Friday while protesting the raids. He was released Monday on $50,000 bail. Huerta, president of SEIU California, has become a symbolic figure in the movement, which includes janitors, security guards, and other essential workers.
Outside the federal detention center downtown, protesters linked arms in front of a police line. Religious leaders joined demonstrators to help de-escalate tensions. Chants of “Free them all!” and “National Guard go away!” filled the air, even as law enforcement stepped up crowd-control tactics later in the evening. At least a dozen people were detained in the Little Tokyo area as protests continued into the night.
Wider Demonstrations and Arrests
Additional rallies took place Monday in San Francisco, Santa Ana, Dallas, and Austin, underscoring nationwide outrage over the immigration raids.
Outside a Los Angeles garment warehouse, relatives of detained workers demanded their release. Gabriel, the brother of detained worker Jacob Vasquez, said his family had received no information about Jacob since his arrest. “Jacob is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his household,” he said, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Over the weekend, several dozen protesters were arrested. Authorities reported that one individual threw a Molotov cocktail at officers, while another drove a motorcycle into a police line.
A Rare Federal Intervention
Trump’s order marks a rare instance of federal troops being deployed without a state’s request. The last comparable action occurred in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Alabama to protect civil rights marchers.
Trump cited a federal statute on Saturday that allows such action in response to “rebellion” or threats against federal authority.
Still, local leaders remain resolute in their opposition. Mayor Bass called the deployment a “deliberate attempt” to “create disorder and chaos in our city,” adding, “Stop the raids.”
As California braces for continued demonstrations, the conflict between state and federal authority appears far from resolved.
Related topics:
- National Guard Patrolling Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate
- Protests Erupt in Downtown LA Amid Federal Immigration Sweeps
- US Immigration Officers Instructed to Arrest More People Without Warrants
