The streets of Los Angeles are heating up—and not just from the weather. A total of 700 U.S. Marines have been deployed to the city in response to intensifying anti-ICE protests, raising concerns nationwide about the growing presence of military forces in American cities.
According to TMZ, the Marines—drawn from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms—are expected to arrive in Los Angeles within 24 hours. Their deployment reportedly aims to reinforce the National Guard and local law enforcement, as demonstrations swell across Southern California.
Why Are People Protesting in L.A.
Protests emerged over the weekend in response to large-scale ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants in California. Activists have condemned the sweeps as racially targeted and traumatic, especially for immigrant families.Despite the growing tension, officials have stated there have been no deaths or homicides related to the protests in downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas so far.
Trump Defends Military Response, Slams California Leaders
President Donald Trump addressed the military deployment in a press conference Monday, saying the situation is “well under control.” “I think it would have been a very bad situation. It was heading in the wrong direction. It’s now heading in the right direction,” Trump said.
The former president took aim at Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of enabling chaos. “Governor Gavin Newscum and ‘Mayor’ Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “These are not protestors, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists. Remember, NO MASKS!”
Newsom Claps Back: ‘This is a day I hoped I would never see in America’
In response, Gov. Newsom posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing outrage over Trump’s statements: “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
The standoff between state and federal authority is playing out in real time—and the visible militarization of Los Angeles is leaving citizens uneasy.
Public Reaction: Shock and Outrage Over Military Presence
Across the U.S., citizens are reacting with a mix of fear, confusion, and outrage. Many are questioning whether the deployment of active-duty troops to suppress civil protests is constitutional—or a dangerous precedent.
Civil rights organizations have also sounded the alarm, warning that this could fuel more unrest, not quell it.