Why Are National Guard Troops and Marines Being Deployed to Los Angeles Amid Protests?

Los Angeles Faces Increased Military Presence

Los Angeles: President Donald Trump has ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, a move that local officials and Governor Gavin Newsom have expressed concerns about. The police chief has indicated that this military presence complicates the management of ongoing protests.

The first wave of 2,000 Guard troops began arriving on Sunday, coinciding with a surge in violence during protests sparked by Trump's intensified immigration enforcement, which critics argue is tearing families apart.

Demonstrations on Monday were notably calmer, with thousands participating in a peaceful rally at City Hall and others protesting outside a federal facility that houses immigrants detained after recent workplace raids.

Trump has painted a grim picture of Los Angeles, a characterization that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom dispute, claiming that the deployment of military personnel jeopardizes public safety, especially since local police have stated they do not require additional support.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed confidence in the department's capacity to manage large protests, warning that the Marines' arrival without prior coordination could pose significant logistical challenges.

Newsom criticized the troop deployments as reckless and disrespectful to military personnel, asserting that the situation is more about appeasing a 'dangerous President' than ensuring public safety.

The protests commenced on Friday after federal immigration agents arrested over 40 individuals throughout the city. On Monday, the air was thick with smoke, a day after demonstrators blocked a major freeway and set self-driving vehicles ablaze, prompting police to respond with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Protests against immigration raids continued into the evening across various cities, including San Francisco, Santa Ana, Dallas, and Austin.

In Austin, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported that over a dozen protesters were arrested, while in Santa Ana, local police confirmed the National Guard's presence to secure federal buildings.

California's Legal Push Against Federal Troops

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated a lawsuit against the deployment of National Guard troops, claiming that Trump has overstepped his authority and violated the state's sovereignty.

Bonta stated, 'We cannot allow the president to misuse his power and unlawfully mobilize California's National Guard.' He is seeking a court ruling to declare the deployment unlawful and to issue a restraining order against it.

Trump claimed that without the Guard's deployment, Los Angeles would have faced severe chaos.

U.S. officials indicated that the Marines were sent to safeguard federal properties and personnel, including immigration agents. However, one official noted that the order was just signed, and it might take a couple of days for the troops to be fully mobilized.

Despite their presence, interactions between the Guard and protesters have been minimal as local law enforcement manages crowd control.

Bass condemned the deployment as a calculated effort by the Trump administration to instigate disorder in the city, urging the federal government to cease the raids.

Peaceful Protests Amid Tensions

On Monday, thousands gathered around City Hall for a union rally in support of labor leader David Huerta, who was arrested during the immigration protests but later released on a $50,000 bond.

Huerta's arrest has galvanized opposition to the administration's immigration policies. He leads the Service Employees International Union California, representing many workers in the state.

The early protests maintained a peaceful atmosphere, with attendees dancing to live music and celebrating Huerta's release.

Protesters formed a human chain in front of police lines outside the federal detention center where Huerta was held, with religious leaders assisting in de-escalating tensions.

While a heavy police presence was noted in the vicinity of the detention facility, most of the city's 4 million residents continued their daily routines in relative peace.

As the day progressed, chants against the National Guard intensified, with protesters demanding, 'Free them all!' and 'National Guard go away.'

As the crowd began to disperse, police escalated their tactics, using crowd-control measures to push protesters away, resulting in several arrests.

Additional protests emerged throughout Los Angeles County, including a news conference outside a clothing warehouse where family members of detained workers demanded their release.

The family of Jacob Vasquez, who was detained while working at the warehouse, expressed concern over his well-being, emphasizing his role as the family's primary provider.

Over the weekend, authorities reported multiple arrests, including one individual detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police.

Unprecedented National Guard Deployment

This deployment marks a rare instance where a state's National Guard was activated without the governor's request, representing a significant escalation against those opposing the administration's mass deportation efforts.

Historically, the last time National Guard troops were activated without a governor's consent was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

In a directive issued Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal troops in response to what he termed 'rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.'