In a significant escalation of its response to ongoing protests against immigration enforcement, the Pentagon has announced that a Marine battalion will be deployed to Los Angeles, according to recent statements from the U.S. military.
The military confirmed on Monday the activation of 700 Marines to safeguard federal personnel and property in the California metropolis, following President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard just a day prior.
This decision comes amid resistance from state officials, including California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, who had previously attempted to legally challenge the National Guard’s presence in the city.
In a press release, the military emphasized that the Marines’ activation was designed to ensure “continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency.”
An anonymous official from the Trump administration clarified in comments to Reuters that the Marines would support the National Guard and law enforcement efforts, without direct engagement with civilian protesters.
At this point, Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would enable military involvement in domestic law enforcement beyond its current support role.
Before the deployment was announced, Trump expressed openness to sending Marines to Los Angeles, although he remarked that the city’s protests were “heading in the right direction.” He added, “We’ll see what happens.”
Reporting from Los Angeles, Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds noted that Monday’s protests, primarily organized by labor unions in the city center, remained peaceful. He highlighted that the National Guard’s role appeared limited, primarily involving the protection of federal buildings, leading to questions about the necessity of a Marine deployment.
Reynolds pointed out the key difference in roles between the National Guard—typically a part-time, state-run force—and the Marines, who are trained for combat and military operations. “Sending Marines to U.S. cities is unprecedented; they’re units usually deployed internationally where U.S. interests are at stake,” he remarked.
Governor Newsom’s office has indicated that the Marines are only being positioned at a base nearer to Los Angeles, rather than being actively deployed on the streets. Nonetheless, they criticized the escalation as both “unwarranted and unprecedented” for mobilizing elite military forces against U.S. citizens.
California Takes Legal Action
Shortly following the military’s activation announcement, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta revealed that the state had filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authorization for deploying the National Guard. Newsom asserted that local law enforcement had sufficient capacity to manage the protests sparked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Los Angeles and nearby Paramount.
The Democratic governor accused Trump of exacerbating tensions, stating he was “creating fear and terror” by overstepping constitutional limitations. Newsom emphasized that this is more than a local issue; it challenges the foundational principles of the republic itself.
The California lawsuit contends that Trump’s justification for the National Guard’s presence requires the governor’s consent, which Newsom did not provide.
In a related comment, Trump suggested that he would be in favor of arresting Newsom for obstructing immigration enforcement, pointing to earlier threats from his administration’s border czar.
This intervention marks the first instance since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard against a state governor’s wishes, a historical reference to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s actions in response to civil rights protests in Alabama.
Ongoing Protests
Protests against Trump’s immigration policies continued on Monday, with community leaders like Perla Rios speaking out against the current situation. Standing outside an apparel store targeted by ICE, Rios demanded legal representation for those detained.
“Our families are living a nightmare,” Rios stated, echoing broader calls for due process.
Additionally, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) mobilized protests across various cities nationwide, reacting to the administration’s stringent measures against demonstrators, including the arrest of the union’s California president, David Huerta, who was charged with conspiracy during ICE operations.
The SEIU asserted, “From Massachusetts to California, we demand his immediate release and an end to the ICE raids disrupting our communities.”
Meanwhile, protests also erupted in New York and Los Angeles against Trump’s recent travel ban affecting individuals from 12 countries, which many have condemned as discriminatory. At a demonstration in New York City, Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition argued that this new policy continues a legacy of division, reinforcing fears within affected communities.