California is set to take Washington to court on Thursday, as protests against Trump’s immigration policies continue in major cities.
The military has announced that approximately 700 U.S. Marines are expected to be deployed in Los Angeles by Thursday or Friday.
This move, which was made despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, has ignited a national debate over the deployment of military forces on U.S. soil, further deepening divisions in the country.
Protests have also emerged in other cities, including New York, Chicago, Washington, and San Antonio, Texas.
A federal judge in San Francisco will review California’s lawsuit against Trump on Thursday. The state is seeking temporary restraining orders to prevent military involvement in law enforcement.
California ultimately wants a ruling that would restore the National Guard to state oversight and declare Trump’s actions unlawful.
After a series of migrant attacks, protests erupted in Los Angeles last Friday. Following this, Trump mandated the deployment of the National Guard and subsequently the Marines.
In a post on social media, Trump stated that “Los Angeles has been safe and sound for the past two nights. Our great National Guard has put LA police in a position to work effectively, with the help of the Marines,” asserting that without military presence, the city would be facing unprecedented crime.
While protests have largely remained peaceful, they have occasionally turned violent, contributing to rising tensions. Local leaders suggest that Trump’s actions have only escalated conflicts by deploying federal troops unnecessarily; meanwhile, Democrats across the nation have criticized his approach as authoritarian.
Los Angeles has seen protests last for six consecutive days, with mixed levels of peace and unrest.
On Wednesday night, just before the onset of a curfew in the downtown area, police reported that some protesters hurled commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at officers in certain spots.
Amidst this unrest, a group of nearly 1,000 demonstrators was marching peacefully through downtown when police discharged non-lethal ammunition near city hall.
Marlene Lopez, a 39-year-old participant from Los Angeles, expressed her determination, saying, “I’m here because of the fact that our human rights are violated every day. If we give up, it’s over. We have to stand here in LA and make sure the nation follows us.”
Approximately 400 people have been arrested in recent days, with New York police reporting an unspecified number of detentions on Wednesday, following 86 arrests the previous day.
Looking ahead, protests are scheduled to escalate on Saturday, with various activist groups organizing over 1,800 anti-Trump demonstrations nationwide. This coincides with a military parade in Washington, D.C., marking Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Marines Trained for Crowd Control
The Marines have joined the National Guard on the streets of Los Angeles under federal law and are authorized to detain individuals interfering with immigration enforcement.
A battalion of 700 Marines has completed training focused on crowd control for this mission, according to U.S. Northern Command.
While their primary role is to protect federal officers and property, they have the authority to temporarily detain individuals under specific circumstances.
Major General Scott Sherman, who leads the Marines and Security Task Force, assured reporters that while Marines won’t carry live ammunition in their rifles, they will have live rounds with them.
