US Deploys 700 Marines To Los Angeles As Immigration Protests Intensify Against Trump's Diktat

The United States military is set to temporarily deploy approximately 700 Marines to Los Angeles on Monday to reinforce security amid ongoing and increasingly violent protests against President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies.

As the demonstrations enter their fourth consecutive day, the deployment is being described as temporary and is intended to support National Guard units already stationed in the area .

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

The number of National Guard personnel is expected to rise to over 4,000 by midweek, following the Trump administration's directive to dispatch an additional 2,000 troops.

However, the Pentagon has thus far refrained from invoking the Insurrection Act, which would authorise the military to take a direct role in law enforcement-a threshold officials say they are currently steering clear of, reported Reuters.

"A battalion will be sent, but for now, the Insurrection Act is not expected to be invoked," said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The situation is fluid and could change."

In response to Trump's decision to bolster the deployment with another 2,000 National Guard troops, California Governor Gavin Newsom claimed that only 300 troops had actually been deployed thus far, while "the rest are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders."

"The first 2,000? Given no food or water," he tweeted, adding: "This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego. This is Reckless. Pointless. And Disrespectful to our troops."

This marks one of the most major military actions in response to domestic unrest since the nationwide protests began.

Around 300 members of the California National Guard were initially deployed on Sunday, as immigration protests reached a peak in Los Angeles.

The arrival of these federally ordered forces drew sharp criticism from state leaders. The National Guard operates under a dual authority-both federal and state governments share control.

California Launches Legal Challenge Over Deployment

On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the state is suing the Trump administration, labelling the deployment "an unlawful abuse of power" and a violation of state sovereignty.

"We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California National Guard troops," Bonta stated.

Protesters have continued to flood the streets of Los Angeles in growing numbers, voicing opposition to the administration's latest immigration measures, which include sweeping workplace raids and expedited deportations.

The increased military presence has heightened tensions, with many locals expressing alarm over what they perceive as a militarised reaction to civilian protest.

President Trump defended the decision on Monday, asserting: "The city would have been completely obliterated if we hadn't sent in the Guard."

According to the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, Trump has authorised the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops in response to the unrest in Los Angeles.

This latest order raises the total number of federally activated Guard troops for the protests to over 4,100.