In a major escalation of President Donald Trump’s response to anti-immigration enforcement protests, the Pentagon will send a Marine battalion to Los Angeles.
This makes good on Trump’s threat to send more troops to the city to quash protests against government immigration raids and deportations.
The United States military confirmed the “activation” of 700 Marines to work with the National guard troops to help protect federal personnel and property in the California city.
In a statement, the military said the “activation of the Marines” was meant to help “provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency.”
An unnamed Trump administration official disclosed to a news agency that the soldiers would be acting only in support of the National Guard and other law enforcement.
The official said that Trump was not yet invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would suspend legal limitations that block the military from taking part in domestic law enforcement.
According to reports, that the National Guard, which Trump had deployed to the city on Sunday, played a minimal role in responding to the protests, only guarding federal buildings.
That raised questions over why the Trump administration would feel a Marine deployment was needed.
Nonetheless, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan argued that it was necessary to deploy hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles to quell immigration protests that are happening in the city – despite local officials saying it’s unclear why they are there or what they are doing.
“Yes, it all depends on the activities of these protesters – I mean, they make the decisions. I keep hearing reports that they’re rioting because President Trump sent National Guard here, it’s just ridiculous.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen tonight – it seems like at night, the crowds get bigger, the violence peaks. So, we want to be ahead of the game. We’ll be well prepared for the military here to protect government property and protect officers’ lives.”
Tom Homan
Homan declined to say what standard the Trump administration was using to decide if mobilizing the Marines would be necessary, but he iterated, “Their job is protection of property and protection of our agents and their lives and their wellbeing, along with the public’s wellbeing.”
Homan added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue operations in Los Angeles and across the country to enforce immigration law. “ICE is going to be out every single day and will continue to be there regardless what’s happening in LA,” he said.
Hours after the Pentagon deployed about 700 Marines to the protests to the city, Trump authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles, according to the Pentagon’s Chief spokesman.
The latest order brings the total number of Guard put on federal orders for the protests to more than 4,100.
Mobilization Of Marines “Completely Unwarranted”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office called the mobilization of marines “completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented.”
The office said, “Trump is escalating this situation even further – deploying active duty Marines, the ‘best of the best,’ against their own countrymen in an American city.” It added, “Completely unnecessary and only inflames the situation more.”
In a statement, LAPD Chief, Jim McDonnell said the department had not received “any formal notification” of the marines’ activation.
He also said that the “arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles – absent clear coordination – presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.”
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