CliffNotes
- Trump deploys more troops to LA amid immigration protests
- Trump has now sent in around 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines
- The state has sued, arguing the deployment violates California’s sovereignty
Trump deploys more troops to LA amid immigration protests
What happened
Tensions soared in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed around 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines—federalising forces without California’s consent—to crack down on protests sparked by recent ICE immigration raids. Thousands marched, blocked the 101 Freeway, torched driverless cars, and hurled objects at police, prompting authorities to declare an unlawful assembly and disperse crowds using tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs. Officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, condemned the deployment as “authoritarian overreach”, triggering a legal challenge against the federal government.
What next
The state has sued, arguing the deployment violates California’s sovereignty. Demonstrations have spilt over into other cities, and civil‑rights groups plan more mass mobilisations. Inside the Republican Party, responses are split: some support Trump’s “law and order” stance, while critics warn the move threatens democracy and the traditional separation of military and civilian power. As federal troops remain on alert and may be used in other locations, Los Angeles stands at the centre of a national debate over federal authority, state rights, and protester tactics.