Trump Deploys 700 Marines, 2,100 National Guard Troops to Los Angeles Amid Protests

President Donald Trump has escalated the federal response to protests in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement by deploying 700 active-duty Marines alongside more than 2,000 National Guard troops, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom's authority. The Marines, trained in crowd control and de-escalation, are tasked with protecting federal property and personnel, including immigration agents, under Task Force 51. Governor Newsom has vehemently condemned the deployment as an unprecedented and unnecessary militarization of American soil, calling it the "deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President" and a violation of state sovereignty. The California government has sued the Trump administration, arguing that the National Guard activation without state consent violates the 10th Amendment. The move has raised legal questions about the use of active-duty troops in civilian law enforcement, potentially breaching the Posse Comitatus Act. Additionally, Trump and his administration have threatened to arrest Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass if they interfere with federal immigration enforcement, further intensifying the political conflict.