LA Under Siege: Trump Deploys Troops Amidst Immigration Crackdown, Sparking Curfew and Legal Battle

Los Angeles is facing an unprecedented crisis. Following a series of federal immigration raids that resulted in dozens of arrests, President Trump deployed nearly 5,000 troops – including National Guard and Marines – to the city, a move that Governor Gavin Newsom immediately condemned as a dangerous escalation.

Newsom, calling Trump’s action a “military dragnet,” filed an emergency court request to block the deployment, arguing it exacerbates tensions and fuels civil unrest. He highlighted the targeting of non-criminal immigrants, including “dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers, and seamstresses,” and warned that this could be a precedent for other states.

The federal government countered that Newsom’s request is unprecedented and would hinder law enforcement operations. A hearing is set for Thursday.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew on a section of downtown following escalating protests and looting, declaring a local emergency. The curfew, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., aims to curb the violence that followed the immigration raids, which saw protesters blocking freeways and setting cars ablaze.

While the Marines, trained in crowd control but lacking arrest powers, have yet to engage directly with protesters, the presence of the National Guard and Marines has drawn sharp criticism. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concerns that the added military personnel hinder police efforts to manage the situation safely.

The deployment marks a significant escalation, potentially the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without the governor’s consent, echoing President Johnson’s actions during the Civil Rights era. The cost of the deployment is estimated at $134 million.

President Trump defended his actions, leaving open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, while simultaneously referring to protesters as “animals” and a “foreign enemy.” This rhetoric, coupled with the military presence, has further inflamed the situation, leaving Los Angeles grappling with a complex and volatile crisis.

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