The Trump administration has decided to send an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, where protests against ICE have escalated into violence, now entering their fourth day.
On Monday, President Trump instructed the Pentagon to deploy more personnel, following the initial round sent just two days earlier to manage a crowd of demonstrators in downtown LA.
This latest group will raise the total security presence in California to over 4,000 troops.
While it’s uncertain how many federal, state, and local forces are currently handling the protests, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned on Monday that 700 active-duty Marines would also be sent.
California Governor Gavin Newsom indicated that over 800 state and local law enforcement officers will also be dispatched to help ensure public safety in Los Angeles.
Officials anticipate that the new contingent of National Guard members might not arrive in California for another day or two following the order’s confirmation.
As of Sunday, around 2,000 people had been protesting, and that continued into Monday night, with at least 56 arrests made over the weekend.
Newsom, who has previously filed a lawsuit against Trump’s initial National Guard deployment, criticized the decision to send more troops, arguing that it poses risks to both the public and the soldiers.
“The first 2,000 haven’t received adequate supplies. Only about 300 are on duty, while the rest are sitting idle in a federal building. This isn’t about public safety; it feels more like feeding the ego of a volatile president,” he stated.
“This is reckless and unnecessary,” he added.
LA Mayor Karen Bass echoed these concerns, suggesting that the administration’s actions indicate a deliberate attempt to create chaos in the city. She expressed feeling caught in an experiment beyond their control.
Later, Bass urged the federal government to “cease the assault,” hoping for better cooperation as cities strive to move forward.
In response, Trump officials have criticized both Bass and Newsom for what they perceive as a failure to prevent the protests from devolving into riots.
“Gavin Newsom did nothing; Mayor Bass did nothing,” remarked DHS Executive Director Kristi Noem on a Fox News program.
Historically, this situation echoes back to 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson bypassed the governor’s authority to activate the National Guard, calling upon the Alabama State Guard to protect civil rights protesters during a march from Selma to Montgomery.
