Trump Mobilizes Marines Amid Immigration Protests in Los Angeles

Marine Corps Deployment in Response to Protests

On Monday, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of the Marine Corps in Los Angeles as protests erupted over immigration enforcement actions.

The Marine Corps, known for its rapid response capabilities, is seldom utilized domestically to assist police during civil unrest.

Reports indicate that over 700 Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California have been mobilized to address the protests in the city.

These Marines will work alongside National Guard units that were previously deployed to manage the situation.

The US Northern Command stated that the Marines will effectively collaborate with National Guard personnel to safeguard federal workers and properties in the Los Angeles region.

This military action follows a series of immigration raids and arrests executed by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is responsible for deportation procedures.

These raids are part of a larger initiative by the Trump administration aimed at undocumented immigrants.

Protests commenced on Friday in downtown Los Angeles and quickly spread to neighborhoods like Paramount and Compton by Saturday.

Federal agents conducted arrests in various locations throughout the day.

On Sunday, tensions heightened as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in reaction to the National Guard's deployment.

Highways were obstructed, vehicles were set ablaze, and law enforcement resorted to tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

Property damage was reported during the protests, with 53 individuals arrested by Monday, according to unnamed officials.

In a related development, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard without consulting Governor Gavin Newsom.

The governor criticized the Marine deployment as "unwarranted" and "unprecedented," expressing concerns about the military's involvement against citizens.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has committed to intensifying operations to apprehend suspected undocumented immigrants.

Protests also erupted in at least nine other cities across the United States on Monday, including New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.