The U.S. military plans to deploy 700 Marines to Los Angeles within 48 hours to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, according to officials. They’ll join 2,000 National Guard troops already stationed in the area.
The Marines will operate under Title 10 authority, which permits them to detain individuals in certain situations temporarily but prohibits them from engaging in direct law enforcement activities. Their mission includes protecting federal personnel and property.
The deployment follows six days of protests sparked by ICE raids that began last Friday, June 6, in Los Angeles. President Donald Trump ordered the troop movements without the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, triggering a legal challenge by the state.
What is the legal challenge to the deployment?
California has sued the Trump administration, claiming the troop deployment violates Title 10 requirements. The state has asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order to block the Marines and National Guard, arguing their use crosses legal limits on military involvement in civilian matters.
In a legal filing, the Trump administration claims that the president has the discretion to respond to what he views as rebellion or threats to public order.
How have protests and arrests unfolded nationwide?
Demonstrations have spread from Los Angeles to cities including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle and San Antonio. In Los Angeles, protests have been largely peaceful but occasionally violent. Police reported incidents of fireworks and rocks thrown at officers and used less-lethal munitions on a crowd near City Hall.
In New York, authorities reported dozens of arrests over two days. In Spokane, Washington, protests over the detention of a Venezuelan asylum seeker led to a citywide curfew and a declaration of emergency. Police deployed tear gas and arrested protesters who refused to disperse.
Trump attends Les Misérables
Trump attended the opening of Les Misérables on Wednesday, June 11, at the Kennedy Center, drawing both cheers and boos from the audience. Outside, drag performers protested his recent ban on drag shows and his leadership changes at the center, which included naming himself board chair and removing previous trustees.
How do troops and families view the mission?
Military advocacy groups say morale among service members is low. Organizations, including the Secure Families Initiative and Chamberlain Network, report that many National Guard members and Marines, according to accounts shared by their families, feel their deployment is politically motivated and outside their typical responsibilities.
Photographs confirmed by the Pentagon show troops sleeping on concrete floors with inadequate supplies. Critics, including Newsom, argue that the deployments are a provocation and a misuse of federal forces.
