In a significant move, President Donald Trump has sanctioned the deployment of an extra 2,000 National Guard members to manage immigration protests in Los Angeles, revealed the Pentagon’s leading spokesperson. This new directive raises the total number of Guard members deployed under federal orders for the protests to over 4,100.
The announcement followed swiftly after the Pentagon dispatched approximately 700 Marines to the demonstrations to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies.
The earlier contingent of 2,100 National Guard members was anticipated to arrive in LA by Monday evening, although confirmation of their arrival was pending.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the deployment of the National Guard as “unlawful,” asserting that it violated the state’s sovereignty. In response, Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also disclosed plans to litigate against the federal government.
This marks a rare instance over the decades where a state’s National Guard has been activated without the governor’s request. President Trump utilized a legal statute that empowers him to mobilize federal troops in the face of “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”
Protests extend into late night hours in LA
As Monday evening arrived, law enforcement was actively moving a few hundred demonstrators east through Little Tokyo. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department used flashbangs and non-lethal projectiles to disperse protesters through a busy commercial district, prompting bystanders and restaurant workers to seek refuge. Protesters retaliated by setting off fireworks and hurling water bottles at the officers, chanting slogans like “Shame!” and “ICE out of LA.”
Ahead of these incidents, the protestors had been driven away from the downtown federal detention center.
US Attorney General intervenes as protests lead to violence
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking on Fox News, disclosed that the Justice Department intends to use a civil disorder charge against individuals instigating violence against law enforcement and pursue federal charges against those burglarizing businesses.
“If California won’t protect their law enforcement, we will protect the LAPD and the sheriff’s office out there,” Bondi declared on “Hannity.”
Bondi further revealed the identification of a suspect accused of throwing broken cinderblocks at law enforcement vehicles, which resulted in an officer’s injury. The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s apprehension.
Appeals for calm amid unrest
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass concluded a press conference with a passionate plea to the federal government: “Stop the raids.”
“I hope that we will be heard because our city is trying to move forward, and I believe the federal government should be supportive of those efforts.”
Mayor Bass indicated that local immigrant rights organizations had confirmed at least five ICE raids across LA, condemning the National Guard and Marine deployment as a deliberate strategy by the Trump administration to “create disorder and chaos” in the city.
“I feel like we are part of an experiment that we did not ask to be a part of,” she expressed.
More Guard troops confirmed by Pentagon
Sean Parnell’s social media post echoed Governor Gavin Newsom’s earlier statements, confirming the doubling of National Guard troops in California.
This latest directive brings the total Guard members on federal orders to over 4,100 amidst the protests. Governor Newsom criticized the movement of additional troops as irresponsible and not conducive to public safety.
Parnell clarified that these additional troops would engage in supporting ICE operations and securing federal law enforcement activities.
President Trump warns demonstrators yet remains lenient towards January 6 rioters
President Trump took to social media to warn the demonstrators in Los Angeles, stating, “IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!” This firm stance contrasts with his earlier leniency towards rioters from the January 6 U.S. Capitol assault, many of whom were pardoned by Trump.
“Trump’s behavior makes clear that he only values the rule of law and the people who enforce it when it’s to his political advantage,” commented Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist.
Despite Trump’s recent order for Guard deployment, officials indicated it may take days for the full number to assemble in Los Angeles.
Attorney General files lawsuit over National Guard deployment
A lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta alleged that President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exceeded their constitutional boundaries by federalizing the National Guard without consulting California’s governor.
Bonta described the activity in Los Angeles as “primarily peaceful protests with some acts of violence or civil disobedience” that do not qualify as a rebellion.
“This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic,” Governor Newsom commented.
Dozens arrested, hundreds of rounds used amid LA protests
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the arrest of 29 individuals for non-compliance on Saturday night and an additional 21 arrests on Sunday for various charges, including attempted murder and assault.
Local law enforcement also acknowledged using tear gas and more than 600 rubber bullets during the confrontations, with five officers sustaining injuries.
Concerns over coordination with Marines
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concerns over the lack of formal notification and coordination with the arriving Marines, stressing the need for open communication between agencies to prevent logistical and operational complications.
While the Pentagon is developing rules to guide the deployed Marines, outlining their authorization in de-escalation and self-defense scenarios, the potential for civilian detainment remains an area of concern.
Religious leaders aid in calming protests
In an attempt to maintain peace, religious leaders joined demonstrators around the Metropolitan Detention Center, linking hands and singing in front of police to moderate the protest.
New Yorkers rally for detained Californian labor leader David Huerta
A rally was held outside New York City Hall, demanding the release of David Huerta, a California labor leader held for conspiring against federal law during protests against President Trump’s immigration policies.
The demonstration in Manhattan bore similarities to nationwide expressions of support for Huerta and contempt for increased federal law enforcement presence in Los Angeles.
Amid escalating discontent, criticism of the federal response remains strong, with opponents urging a refocus on maintaining peace and protecting citizens’ rights within bustling urban environments like Los Angeles.