LA Protests: 700 Active-Duty Marines, Additional 2,000 National Guards Deployed; California To Sue Trump | Top Points

US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the deployment of additional 2,000 National Guards while the Defense Department under the leadership and support of Pete Hegseth have agreed to deploy about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in order to 'protect federal property and personnel'.

California attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the intent to seek a court order declaring Trump’s use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment.

The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people that day across the city.

Also Read | LA Riots: From Rodney King Assault, To Zoot Suits, Now Immigration Crackdown By Trump

Los Angeles Protests | Top Points

• President Donald Trump on Monday authorised the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members in order to respond to intensifying protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled support for deploying troops to California on social media as he wrote, “The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE,” referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

• The Defense Department said Monday it is deploying about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles to support 4,100 National Guard troops already on the ground to respond to the protests.

• According to AP report, the Marines have been sent to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines are being sent from Twentynine Palms, California to respond to the protests.

• A US official told the media that the troops will be armed with their normal service weapons but will not be carrying tear gas. They also will have protective equipment such as helmets, shields and gas masks.

Also Read | Indian Student Handcuffed And Pinned To Ground In New York, Video Sparks Outrage

• Governor Gavin Newsom called the move reckless and “disrespectful to our troops” in a post on the social platform X. “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” Newsom said.

• California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the intent to file a lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops by telling reporters that Trump had “trampled” the state’s sovereignty. “We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops,” Bonta said. He sought a court order declaring Trump’s use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment.

• Thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally on Monday ahead of a hearing for arrested labour leader David Huerta, who was released a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. The early protests on Monday had a calm and even joyful atmosphere at times, with people dancing to live music over Huerta’s release.

• Huerta’s arrest on Friday while protesting immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. 

• Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.