Web Desk: The Trump administration escalated tensions Monday by ordering U.S. Marines into Los Angeles and intensifying raids on undocumented immigrants, igniting fierce backlash from protesters and Democratic leaders who warn of a constitutional crisis.

Military Deployment Stirs Controversy

Approximately 700 Marines from Southern California are expected to arrive in Los Angeles by Tuesday morning, part of a federal effort to suppress protests against aggressive immigration enforcement—a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s second term.

While their stated mission is to protect federal personnel and property until 4,000 National Guard troops fully deploy, the move marks an extraordinary militarization of domestic law enforcement. California officials, who did not request federal intervention, have condemned the move as an overreach.

Expanding Crackdowns & Political Clash

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to ramp up operations targeting undocumented immigrants, further fueling demonstrations. Trump officials have dismissed the protests as “lawless” and accused Democratic leaders of enabling chaos through sanctuary city policies.

The conflict has deepened partisan divisions, with Trump even floating the arrest of California Governor Gavin Newsom for resisting federal enforcement. California swiftly sued the administration Monday, arguing the deployment violates federal law and state sovereignty.

Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted the decision:
“The president is forcibly overriding the authority of the governor and mayor and using the military as a political weapon. This unprecedented move threatens to turn a tense situation into a national crisis.”

Protests Turn Violent as Police Clash with Demonstrators

For a fourth straight night, protests erupted outside a federal detention center in downtown L.A., where police fired tear gas and “less-lethal” rounds to disperse crowds. National Guard troops formed barricades, while officers made arrests amid chants of “Free them all!”

Similar demonstrations flared in at least nine other cities, including New York, Philadelphia, and Austin, where police detained protesters after clashes.

A Rare Domestic Military Mobilization

The deployment of active-duty Marines for domestic law enforcement is highly unusual. While troops have been used for disasters like Hurricane Katrina, their involvement in civil unrest is rare without state consent.

The last major use of the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when then-Governor Pete Wilson requested federal help during the Rodney King riots. Newsom has accused Trump of authoritarianism, asserting that only governors can activate the National Guard.

Trump’s Hardline Rhetoric Escalates

Trump endorsed a suggestion by former Border Czar Tom Homan that Newsom be arrested for obstructing immigration enforcement, telling reporters, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great.”

Meanwhile, DHS reported arresting 2,000 immigrants daily—a sharp increase from the 311 daily average in 2024 under Biden. Noem warned protesters:
“The more they commit violence against law enforcement, the harder ICE will come after them.”

A City Divided

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass condemned the crackdown, calling it an attack on a “city of immigrants.” Noem fired back: “They’re not a city of immigrants. They’re a city of criminals.”

As tensions rise, the standoff between federal forces and local leaders raises critical questions about military power, states’ rights, and the future of immigration enforcement in America.