Los Angeles is on edge as protests against aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations triggered a military deployment ordered by former President Donald Trump, sparking national outrage and legal fire from California officials.
According to CBS News, Trump mobilized 700 active-duty Marines to join 2,100 National Guard troops already stationed in L.A., Paramount, and Compton; an unprecedented federal escalation that Governor Gavin Newsom immediately condemned as “illegal and immoral.”
The Marines, trained in riot control and crowd management, arrived from Twentynine Palms and could be deployed into action as early as Friday, fueling concerns of further unrest. Defense officials said the entire operation may cost $134 million, as reported during a congressional hearing.
Downtown L.A. has already been locked down with curfews imposed by Mayor Karen Bass following violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Demonstrations, which began peacefully, quickly spiraled into chaos, with several fires, looting incidents, and attacks on police reported across the city.
Federalized troops, although not part of direct ICE raids, have accompanied immigration officers in what critics describe as a de facto martial law scenario. California has now sued the Trump administration, arguing that the military deployment bypassed state authority and exacerbated tensions unnecessarily.
Gov. Newsom blasted the decision, stating, “This is not about public safety. This is political theater aimed at stirring fear.” He warned of additional legal action if Marines are further integrated into civilian law enforcement operations.
By Wednesday night, over 850 arrests had been made in connection with the protests, which have also spread to other cities like San Francisco, where over 150 were arrested.
Even high-profile voices like Rep. Maxine Waters and former VP Kamala Harris joined the backlash, calling the administration’s actions “outrageous” and “a provocation to incite chaos.” Protesters accuse the Trump administration of targeting sanctuary cities like L.A. to score political points with anti-immigration voters.
The situation remains fluid, with many fearing what the coming weekend may bring. Protesters vow to keep marching until federal forces leave the city.
