Daijiworld Media Network- Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Jun 10: In an unprecedented and controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles — escalating tensions between the White House and California's state leadership over how to manage widespread protests triggered by immigration raids.
This latest order follows the initial dispatch of 2,000 troops that began arriving on Sunday, the same day the city witnessed its most intense episodes of civil unrest in response to federal immigration enforcement. According to U.S. officials, the new deployment is intended to protect federal buildings and personnel, particularly those associated with immigration operations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have fiercely opposed the deployment, labeling it an overreach of federal authority and a provocation rather than a peacekeeping measure. “This isn’t about public safety — it’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” Newsom said in a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter).
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell echoed these concerns, noting that the surprise arrival of federal troops created “significant logistical and operational challenges” for local law enforcement, which he insisted was capable of managing the protests on its own.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has now taken legal action, filing a lawsuit against the federal government. He claimed Trump “trampled” on the state’s sovereignty and requested a restraining order to halt the deployments, declaring the President's use of California’s National Guard unlawful and unjustified.
“These marks one of the rare instances since 1965 that federal troops have been deployed to a state without its governor’s consent,” Bonta emphasized during a press conference.
The protests began Friday following the arrest of more than 40 undocumented workers in sweeping raids across Los Angeles. Demonstrations escalated over the weekend, with incidents of violence reported Sunday, including self-driving vehicles being torched and police responding with tear gas and rubber bullets.
However, Monday's protests were largely peaceful. Thousands gathered outside City Hall and the downtown federal detention center to demand the release of detained workers and denounce the immigration crackdown. The release of David Huerta, a prominent labor leader, on bond brought a momentary lift to the protesters' spirits, with music and dancing breaking out during the demonstration.
Religious leaders joined hands with protest organizers to maintain peace, and chants of “Free them all!” and “National Guard, go away!” echoed through the streets as demonstrators made their presence felt.
This deployment is being viewed as a stark throwback to a tumultuous chapter in U.S. history. Legal experts and civil rights groups pointed out that this level of federal involvement in a state without consent hasn’t occurred since the civil rights movement, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Alabama in 1965.
Trump justified his decision by claiming the city would have been “completely obliterated” without federal intervention. But critics argue that the presence of Marines and National Guard forces may inflame tensions further rather than de-escalate them.
As protests continue and legal proceedings begin, the coming days are expected to test not only the limits of presidential authority but also the resolve of California’s leadership to defend its autonomy amid growing unrest.