The Trump administration has deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to growing protests over intensified immigration raids, sparking legal challenges and political divisions.
Hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived overnight in Los Angeles, with more expected Tuesday, following orders from President Donald Trump amid ongoing protests against immigration raids that began last Friday. The president has also activated 4,000 National Guard troops to help quell demonstrations, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and other local officials.
Approximately half of the 700 Marines ordered to the city reached Los Angeles on Monday night, with the remainder scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, according to a U.S. official. The military has not yet commented publicly on the deployment.
Mayor Bass told local media that over 100 people had been arrested during largely peaceful protests on Monday, though the previous weekend saw clashes involving rock-throwing, vehicle fires, and police use of pepper balls, flash bang grenades, and tear gas.
Trump justified the military deployment by describing the protests as a violent occupation of Los Angeles, a characterization Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom strongly dispute. Newsom has said the deployment inflames tensions and hampers local law enforcement efforts. He has filed a lawsuit arguing that the president’s activation of National Guard troops without the governor’s consent is unlawful - marking the first such unilateral activation in decades.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated the department was not informed about the Marines’ arrival, warning that integrating military personnel presents “significant logistical and operational challenges.”
The Marines’ current role is limited to guarding federal property until the full National Guard force arrives, but the use of active-duty military for domestic civil disturbances remains highly unusual.
Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed grave concern about the deployment, emphasizing the longstanding American principle against using the military for domestic law enforcement.
In contrast, Trump asserted on Truth Social that Los Angeles “would be burning to the ground right now” without the military presence.
The protests were ignited by sweeping immigration enforcement raids launched by the Trump administration targeting undocumented immigrants. Democrats and immigrant rights groups condemn the operations as indiscriminately breaking up families.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged to continue similar raids, while administration officials blame local Democratic sanctuary policies for fostering lawlessness.
On Monday, hundreds gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles chanting “free them all,” waving Mexican and Central American flags. National Guard troops formed barricades to keep protesters away, while police used gas canisters and made arrests during crowd dispersals.
Later that evening, confrontations erupted in the Little Tokyo neighborhood as officers fired flash bangs and tear gas to disperse scattered protesters.
The unrest has spread beyond Los Angeles, with protests reported in Orange County, where immigration raids occurred, as well as at least nine other U.S. cities including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas. In Austin, police deployed non-lethal munitions against several hundred demonstrators, detaining multiple individuals.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in ta...
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the country’s military killed two of Iran’s most senior security figu...
Kazakhstan’Kazakhstan’s lower house has approved plans for a green energy corridor with Azerbaijan and Uz...
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans fo...
When the current confrontation around Iran eventually fades into history, the real story for the South Caucasus may n...
Talks in Malaysia between top diplomats from Russia and the United States were described by the Russian Foreign Ministry as "substantive and frank" with both sides confirming their interest in seeking peaceful solutions to international conflicts.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Senior officials from the United States and Georgia met in Tbilisi to review bilateral relations and regional security amid ongoing diplomatic discussions.
Iran has condemned the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations as “meaningless” after Israel’s largest strike on Iranian targets, accusing Washington of backing the attack. The planned sixth round of talks faces uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Kouri Richins, a U.S. woman who penned a children’s book about bereavement after the death of her husband has been found guilty of killing him.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment