Los Angeles is witnessing significant military presence as approximately 200 Marines have arrived to protect federal property and personnel following a week of tense protests over federal immigration raids. The deployment was confirmed by Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51, overseeing a total of 4,700 troops stationed in the area. The Marines are now operational, having completed their training on civil disturbance and are set to take over at the federal building in downtown Los Angeles at noon local time.
Maj. Gen. Sherman emphasized that the Marines will not engage in law enforcement activities. Instead, their primary focus will be on safeguarding federal law enforcement personnel. "I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," Sherman stated, reinforcing the military's protective role during these turbulent times.
This deployment follows a recent ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order requiring President Donald Trump to return control of the National Guard troops to California. The federal judge had previously ruled that the National Guard's deployment was illegal, asserting it violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded President Trump’s statutory authority. The Marines will complement approximately 2,000 National Guard troops who have been stationed in the city since the immigration raids prompted widespread protests.
The past three nights of protests have largely remained peaceful, with only a handful of arrests occurring primarily due to individuals failing to disperse. In response to the military presence, California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the troop deployment as a "serious breach of state sovereignty" and has initiated legal action to halt it. President Trump has justified the mobilization of federal service members under a legal provision that allows such actions in the face of rebellion or threats to government authority.
In line with the Posse Comitatus Act, active-duty military forces are prohibited from engaging in law enforcement activities. Maj. Gen. Sherman confirmed that the National Guard troops at the federal building will transition to providing protection for federal law enforcement agents without participating in arrests or detentions. "We have had no soldier or Marine detain anyone," he emphasized, clarifying the role of military personnel in the ongoing situation.
As more demonstrations are anticipated over the weekend, the deployment of troops raises questions among state governors regarding their own military resources. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has placed 5,000 National Guard members on standby in areas expecting protests. Other Republican governors have not yet disclosed their plans for troop deployment. Meanwhile, a coalition of Democratic governors has issued a statement criticizing Trump’s actions as "an alarming abuse of power."
Since the onset of protests last Saturday, approximately 470 arrests have been reported, predominantly for failing to comply with law enforcement requests to disperse. Additionally, there have been serious charges, including assaults on officers and possession of illegal weapons. During these events, nine officers sustained minor injuries, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the immigration raids and subsequent demonstrations.
