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The Pentagon deployed 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles on Monday to assist the National Guard in controlling violent anti-ICE protests that escalated over the weekend. The deployment comes after President Trump initially sent 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers under federal command on Saturday, with 300 already positioned at three Los Angeles locations by Monday.
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against President Trump to challenge the National Guard deployment, calling it an unwarranted federal overreach that violates the Constitution. Gov. Newsom characterized the situation as a “manufactured crisis” designed to allow Mr. Trump to take control of state militia, arguing it damages the foundation of the republic. In response, President Trump suggested Mr. Newsom should be arrested for failing to maintain peace and criticized the governor’s handling of the situation.
The protests stem from opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the area. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell reported that the situation deteriorated significantly on Sunday, with protesters using increasingly dangerous tactics. These include firing commercial-grade fireworks at officers, concealing cinder blocks and hammers in backpacks to create improvised weapons, and smashing concrete bollards outside federal buildings to use as projectiles.
Gov. Newsom countered with his own deployment of nearly 900 police officers from the California Highway Patrol and neighboring counties, framing it as an effort to “clean up Trump’s mess.”
State Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading California’s legal challenge, seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the troop deployment. He argued that local law enforcement had the protests under control until President Trump’s “unnecessary and counterproductive” federal intervention escalated tensions. Both Gov. Newsom and Mr. Bonta emphasized their lawsuit aims to prevent the president from federalizing guard troops in other states and situations.
The Trump administration justified the deployment under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, citing invasion, rebellion, or danger of rebellion when the president cannot secure law execution. Officials pointed to historical precedent, including President Johnson’s 1965 bypass of Alabama’s governor to protect civil rights marchers.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the action by highlighting ICE arrests of individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including convictions for child molestation, vehicular manslaughter, and government program theft. She questioned why California officials prioritize protecting “violent criminal illegal aliens” over citizen safety.
Read more: Trump deploys Marines to Los Angeles, Gavin Newsom files lawsuit
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