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The Trump administration has mobilized 700 U.S. Marines from Twentynine Palms, California, to support National Guard operations in Los Angeles, where mass protests have erupted in response to aggressive immigration enforcement and raids.
The move marks a significant escalation in the federal response to civil unrest in California, where tensions between state and federal leaders have boiled over.
According to a defense official speaking with NPR, the Marine infantry battalion has been placed on “alert status” and is expected to assist the National Guard in “protecting federal personnel and property” in the greater Los Angeles area.
The deployment has not been accompanied by a formal invocation of the Insurrection Act, which would allow the president to use active-duty military to suppress domestic unrest. But President Trump has repeatedly referred to the protests as verging on insurrection.
“I wouldn’t call it quite an insurrection, but it could have led to an insurrection,” Trump said on Monday. Still, he added that the situation was “heading in the right direction.”
California Pushes Back, Sues Administration
Just hours after the Marines were put on alert, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the unauthorized deployment of the National Guard violated the 10th Amendment, which protects states from federal overreach.
“The federal government cannot commandeer our National Guard without consent,” Newsom said in a statement. “This is a violation of constitutional norms and state sovereignty.”
The lawsuit claims that Trump acted unilaterally, bypassing the governor’s authority in mobilizing troops, and that federalizing California’s National Guard without state approval sets a dangerous precedent.
Trump Defends Deployment
In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended the decision, writing:
“Los Angeles would be completely obliterated without the deployment of the Guard.”
The White House added over the weekend that active-duty forces may be used to “augment and support the protection of federal functions and property” — similar to the mission the Guard is currently undertaking.
Despite the legal pushback, U.S. Northern Command confirmed the Marine unit’s alert status, stressing it would be operating in coordination with the National Guard, not independently patrolling the city or enforcing civil law.
Escalating Unrest and Political Fallout
The protests, sparked by immigration raids and mass arrests across Los Angeles, have led to tense standoffs between demonstrators and law enforcement. Over the past several days, the city has seen multiple arrests, property damage, and the deployment of crowd-control weapons by police.
Critics of the administration argue that the federal response, including Trump’s harsh rhetoric and threat of force, is provoking further unrest.
“This is not about safety — this is about intimidation,” said Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.). “Deploying the military against your own citizens sends a chilling message.”
The decision to mobilize active-duty Marines — typically reserved for overseas conflicts or national emergencies — has raised alarm among civil liberties advocates, who say the line between law enforcement and military engagement is becoming dangerously blurred.
A broader legal and political fight is likely in the weeks ahead, as the Trump administration faces growing resistance from state officials and scrutiny over the constitutional limits of federal power during domestic crises.
