A battalion of U.S. Marines has been deployed to Los Angeles as violent protests tied to immigration enforcement intensify, prompting federal intervention to restore order and secure federal property. The Marines, drawn from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines based at Twentynine Palms, California, are tasked with safeguarding federal facilities and personnel in the wake of escalating anti-ICE demonstrations that have resulted in widespread destruction across the city.
The deployment follows the arrival of approximately 2,000 National Guard troops over the weekend, a decision authorized by President Donald Trump in response to the unrest. The White House emphasized the urgent need to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law amid reports of rioters targeting federal buildings, torching vehicles, and assaulting law enforcement officers.
President Trump expressed confidence that conditions in Los Angeles are stabilizing, stating, “We have it very well under control. It was heading in the wrong direction. It’s now heading in the right direction.” In a direct message to rioters, he warned that any further attacks on federal personnel would be met with swift and decisive consequences.
Governor Gavin Newsom has challenged the federal response, filing a lawsuit and accusing the administration of overreach by deploying the National Guard without state approval. He also criticized the Marine mobilization as excessive and politically motivated, claiming the movement of troops was being misrepresented and that California’s sovereignty was being undermined.
The protests erupted after federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a series of immigration raids in Los Angeles. Demonstrators quickly filled the streets, voicing opposition to deportation efforts, but peaceful protests turned violent, culminating in property damage, physical altercations, and confrontations with police and federal agents. Images from the protests show masked agitators setting fires, vandalizing property, and waving foreign flags while defacing American symbols.
The federal government maintains that it has the authority to protect federal assets and ensure public order when local and state agencies fail to do so. Administration officials have not confirmed whether the Insurrection Act has been invoked but insist that federal property and personnel must be defended under any circumstances.
Tensions have also extended beyond the United States, with demonstrations spreading internationally. In Mexico City, protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy, some displaying anti-American symbols and effigies targeting President Trump.
