Hundreds of U.S. Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms are being deployed to Los Angeles. This move comes in response to escalating anti-ICE protests that turned violent on Sunday night. According to CNN, between 500 and 700 Marines are being activated to assist federal agents in the area.
The protests, sparked by the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown, have led to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area after incidents of looting and violence. CNN reported that police used flash-bangs and tear gas to disperse crowds, and some protesters set self-driving cars on fire.
President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard over the weekend without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The governor has criticized the move, calling it “unlawful” and has announced plans to sue the Trump administration. The Independent reports that Governor Newsom accused the president of “creating fear and terror” to justify the deployment.
The Marines are expected to arrive in Los Angeles within the next 24 hours, joining the National Guard troops already on the ground. Their role will be supportive, as they are prohibited from conducting law enforcement activities unless the Insurrection Act is invoked. The situation remains tense, with further demonstrations planned in the city.
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