Los Angeles: The Trump administration on Monday deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles and ramped up immigration raids, drawing sharp condemnation from protesters and Democratic leaders who warned the moves risk escalating a national crisis.
Roughly 700 Marines from Southern California bases were set to arrive in the city by late Monday or early Tuesday, federal officials said. The military presence is part of a broader plan to suppress demonstrations triggered by a recent surge in federal immigration enforcement operations—hallmarks of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The Marines are tasked with temporarily safeguarding federal personnel and property until 4,000 National Guard troops—whose full deployment is still pending—can be mobilized. The use of active-duty military in a civilian law enforcement context is rare and has drawn fierce backlash, particularly since California's state and local officials did not request federal intervention.
At the same time, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to intensify the nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants. She said the administration would not back down, despite mounting resistance from local governments and mass protests in major cities.
Federal officials have characterized the demonstrations as chaotic and accused Democratic leaders of allowing sanctuary policies that obstruct federal law enforcement. Trump went further, saying he supported calls to arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom for allegedly hindering immigration operations.
California responded by suing the federal government, challenging the legality of both the military deployment and the intensified raids. Governor Newsom decried the federal actions as an overreach, calling them a "clear step toward authoritarianism."
Democratic Senator Jack Reed, the top member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also condemned the move, warning that using military force against civilians risked deepening divisions and triggering a constitutional crisis.
“For over two centuries, Americans have made it clear: we do not want our military involved in domestic policing,” Reed said.
The Marine deployment coincided with the fourth consecutive day of protests. On Monday night, demonstrators gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles, where many immigrants are being held. Police used tear gas and non-lethal projectiles to disperse the crowd, with reports of multiple arrests.
National Guard troops formed a perimeter around the facility, while LAPD officers and sheriff’s deputies moved aggressively to clear nearby streets. Similar confrontations occurred in the city’s Little Tokyo neighborhood, where flashbang grenades and tear gas echoed through residential areas as residents and tourists looked on.
The protests—sparked by the stepped-up immigration enforcement—spread to at least nine other cities, including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas, where several people were detained in clashes with police.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denounced the federal tactics, telling MSNBC, “This is a city of immigrants.” Secretary Noem fired back, saying, “They’re not a city of immigrants. They’re a city of criminals.”
According to Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been arresting approximately 2,000 individuals per day in recent operations—far exceeding the daily average of 311 under the Biden administration in 2024.
“The more they protest and attack our officers, the harder ICE will push back,” Noem told Fox News host Sean Hannity.
For many Americans, especially those with immigrant backgrounds, the situation has become deeply personal.
“This isn’t just about immigrants—it’s about what kind of country we want to live in,” said Marzita Cerrato, a 42-year-old daughter of Mexican and Honduran immigrants, who joined the Los Angeles protests.
With the country more politically polarized than ever, the deployment of Marines and the federal government's aggressive immigration strategy have ignited a fierce national debate over states’ rights, civil liberties, and the future of immigration policy in America.
