Trump Deploys National Guard, Marines Amid Los Angeles Immigration Protests

President Donald Trump has escalated the response to violent immigration protests in Los Angeles by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops and signaling the potential mobilization of active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton, citing increasing lawlessness. The unrest followed immigration raids by ICE, which led to clashes including vehicle torching and confrontations with federal officers, prompting Trump to accuse Democratic leaders of failing to control the situation and promising federal intervention. California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democrats, including Rep. Maxine Waters, have condemned the deployment as inflammatory and militarized, with Waters calling Trump's actions cruel and dishonorable. Media coverage has been sharply divided, with Trump allies labeling the unrest as an insurrection, while mainstream outlets describe it as protests, highlighting the political polarization surrounding the events. Trump’s administration and deputies argue the riots demonstrate an 'invasion' by illegal immigrants, seeking to justify the use of special deportation powers under the Alien Enemies Act, a claim challenged by some judges. Critics warn that Trump's heavy-handed tactics are intended to inflame divisions and redirect public anger toward an internal enemy amid broader political and social conflicts.