U.S. president, Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 700 Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles California, amid escalating violence linked to immigration raids.
The move aims to protect the country’s federal property and personnel as protests, sparked by recent immigration enforcement actions, continue to spread unrest throughout the city.
Over the past four days, Los Angeles has witnessed intense clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with rioters burning cars, blocking freeways, and engaging in violent confrontations with police. The city, known as a sanctuary city, has become the epicenter of nationwide unrest, with similar protests and arrests reported in California, New York, and Texas.
President Trump has issued a forceful warning to protesters, stating that those involved will be “hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” following reports of aggressive behavior toward officers. The President also targeted California Governor Gavin Newsom, calling for his arrest and accusing him of incompetence, a charge Newsom vehemently rejected as authoritarian overreach. The governor and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the federal troop deployment, claiming it exacerbated tensions and escalated peaceful protests into violent riots.
In response, California has filed a lawsuit to block further federal troop deployments, calling the move a serious breach of state sovereignty. Despite the political clash, law enforcement has used tear gas, flash-bangs, rubber bullets, and pepper balls to disperse crowds, leading to numerous arrests. In Los Angeles alone, more than 50 people have been detained over the weekend, with hundreds more taken into custody in other cities.
The situation remains volatile as President Trump’s new travel ban targeting immigrants comes into effect, fueling further opposition and unrest. The international community has taken notice, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the shooting of a journalist during the protests as “horrific” and raising concerns directly with the U.S. administration.
As tensions mount, Los Angeles braces for continued unrest amid a growing national debate over immigration policy and law enforcement tactics.